Settle Out of Court, Part 2

Those who die without placing their faith in Jesus will face judgment. It would've been infinitely better had they settled with Jesus while they still could settle out of court. While there's time. Go back to the judge's chamber and manage guilty on us and our I can do nothing of myself. I deserve Irishman, under the I'm on my way to save me phrases like that some the prevailing philosophy of our age.

And what we should take advantage of every opportunity we have. We also need to live our lives with the realization that the afterlife is real both heaven and hell are real and everyone ends up in one of those places on our last broadcast Stephen Davey began a series entitled is hell for real.

He didn't have time to complete lesson one in that series. So were bringing you that right now. This message is called settle out of court.

One thing for the Bible to say to somebody gets thrown into hell because he wasn't good enough to get into heaven people by that line of reasoning. They were good enough to get into heaven and follow the rules work to enjoy the right church to do the right thing. Maybe they were mass murderer yet. I good enough to get into heaven. It's one thing to say someone is going to heaven because they don't deserve heaven listen. It is an entirely different thing to say that someone is going to hell because he deserves hell that is offensive, utterly offensive to every generation to believe that hell could possibly be served later on. John will tell us why. But here in verse 11, he informs us of this unforgettable setting, which involves a great white mentions that the throne this is in the desk for dialogue. This is in the couch for therapy. This is in a stool upon which some some wise counselor may sit are some teachers know this is a this is a throne from which will be delivered. The Kings verdict John makes reference to the king.

Look at verse 11. He speaks of the one him who sat upon it.

H now we have to go outside this text to know which person of the Godhead is instrumentally involved in the judgment of humanity. We know from a number of verses that God the son shares the throne with God the father. It's the place of authority. We we know that he's seated on the throne. Revelation 22 refers to the throne of God and of the Lamb. Paul wrote to the Colossians in chapter 3, verse one.

Therefore, if you been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. That means he's seated at the place of authority. He represents the triune God in in this unique way. The writer of Hebrews chapter 10 verse 12 wrote the Christ, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God reference to the throne being shared by the father and son.

The Spirit hovering there as well. Reference to the triune God. Certainly, being in place.

The apostle Peter wrote that Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven first Peter 322, they share the throne as equally divine, along with the spirit God in three persons, we saying, great truth, we believe, and not because we understand that but because the Bible delivers it now although they share the throne, and all three persons equally divine. They yet have unique function I we talk about the economic subordination of the triune God ontologically, there equal economically as it relates to function their subordinate save Jesus doing the will of the father in any of the spirit glorifying the sun doesn't mean that they're less equal than than the other. They have unique functions and one of the unique functions of God the son is that he will be the judge.

Jesus Christ himself said in John chapter 5 verse 22, not even the father judges anyone, but he has given all judgment to the son, Jesus Christ.

Then is the judge and by the way, this court can't be held if the judge is dead is alive resurrected, ascended seated in fact it's this truth. By the way of the resurrection of Christ. The turn cowards and the Crusaders of these apostles were disciples before they got promoted a few months earlier when I know they're denying him and running.

Here's Peter cursing so that people would be fairly certain that he had nothing to do with the Galilean covering it up now just a matter of weeks later he's boldly preaching the gospel. What changed them judges alive.

He seen them more than that. Acts chapter 10 informs us that after Jesus rose from the dead, and this is actually Peter preaching Dakota's words, he Jesus ordered us to proclaim to the people and silently to testify that this is the one who has been appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead of him Christ. All the prophets bear witness, that through his name. Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins always telling people he's the coming judge and you need to believe in them, so you can be forgiven of your sin. The irony is this the one who now receives people who will he then will forgive their sin will be the same one who will John them who do not.

By the way, I don't if you caught it all read it again. Peter said and he ordered us to proclaim to the people and solemnly to testify that this is the one who is been appointed by God the father as judge of the living and the dead did Jesus know that his followers were supposed to say things like that that he's going to judge the world did Jesus know that we were just supposed to keep our hearts open in our valves shut did Peter know that he submitted under orders we've been commanded to go heaven.

We and in the process of making disciples were to baptize them in the name of the father son is spirited and and to teach them to observe all I've commanded you.

And in love with you always, that that is the suggestion that is ever really good Christians that is ever people enjoying the church and everybody else does not decide on yet for every one of us to know Christ.

We have been commanded to tell our world the John Jay is coming who will judge the living and the dead.

We cannot keep this to ourselves and Paul would say in second Corinthians 520.

We beg the unbelieving world to be reconciled to God.

Why for one want to glorify God and obey him. And yet, the thing that moved Paul toward tears was this idea of an unreconciled world judge. There is a coming payday. That is a terrifying verdict so terrible that we would never wish this upon anyone seen his is actually made more terrifying than what John writes next in verse 11. Note that the beginning will start there.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who sat upon in the notice, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them pictures quite a good debate among committed believers as to what God is going to do in the earth and the heavens are those that believe that he's going to burn the surface of it and sort of burn away as it were, that the effects of sin. They have a good argument, but John's vision here, coupled with numerous old and New Testament passages, including primarily second Peter chapter 3 leaves little doubt in my mind that what will happen in between the ending of the kingdom in that brief period of time where Satan is judged and the earth is destroyed in this great trial takes place. That period of time or those things are happening between the kingdom and the new heaven and the new earth is is this terrifying moment where the universe will be literally consumed by fire.

Peter writes the heavens will pass away with a roar of the Greek word for roar is a word that delivers to us the sound of what that would make it's a clap it's a it's a bang, so to speak. We believe in the Big Bang at the end of the beginning.

Is this clap. The snap is how the word is intended to be spoken and the earth.

Peter says and its works will be burned according to his promise.

However, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Peter writes the elements will be destroyed. The word for elements is the Greek word strike carry-on which refers to the atomic particles which are the basic building blocks of everything that is, it will all be destroyed.

In fact, when Peter says the elements will be destroyed.

The word destroyed is even more enlightening because the Greek word literally means a loose, unhinged the atoms will split and what happens when a split. You have a nuclear explosion. The universe will literally come apart and explode as if the world one fiery gigantic nuclear bomb. The heat from this universal explosion. Peter writes about will disperse everything if I John then says I think it's interesting he says in verse 11, and from his presence earth and heaven fully matter perhaps isn't destroyed but yet it flees to we do not know where in its unhinged state and perhaps what God will do. That is, he will collected all and he will fashion a brand-new worth and date a brand-new universal.

Imagine, then you have this explosion and all of a sudden there's nothing you have a court room, then that is suspended in space. You'll see earth below you, you will see the heavens above either no planets. There are no starters. Nothing except the redeemed are seated upon their thrones. The hosts of heaven say that is the majority having been sent to the lake of fire and you have the unredeemed standing upon nothing but their standing before the great White throne. We can even begin to imagine the scene. The prophet Daniel had a similar vision use different words. He described it a little bit more thoroughly. Listen to his vision.

I kept looking. Daniel says until throne were set up the plural use of thrones implies that Christ redeemable will play a role in this final judgment if if not passing sentence. What I don't miss really believe we will. But we will at least play a role in observing and no doubt, affirming with solemn unity the glory of God's justice and the righteousness of his verdict. There won't be a believer going all don't do that we will all in one car essay God is right. God is just, he does what is writes.

Daniel says I kept looking until thrones were set up in the ancient of days took his seat, his vesture was like white snow and the hair of his head like pure wool is throne was ablaze with flame a river of fire was flowing, and coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands were attending him. That's us and myriads upon myriads were standing before him. You can help but notice the contrast between thousands who are attending him those that found the narrow gate and hundreds of millions times hundreds of millions standing before broad is the gate that leads to everlasting destruction compared to the to the millions upon millions who stand before him. Daniel says it's like there were just thousands attending and he said the court sat in the books were opened to. You can even begin to imagine the scene.

Can you I can't witness by John the apostle is is given a tour of the future, the end of planet Earth as we know it. This terrifying scene primarily to all of humanity who will observe this fiery explosion who believe that somehow earth belong to them.

It was there planted an LC in that configuration. This is the hand of God he created it he destroys he will remake this is an unforgettable setting. Let let me have you noticed very quickly here before we stop for the day such as this unforgettable setting.

Let me show you an unavoidable salmon.

Look at verse 12 and I saw the dead, the great and the small standing before the throne and the books were opened. Look at verse 13 and the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them and they were judged, Hades you see the reference there gave up the dead. This would be the place where their souls are abiding. This is the place of torment as referenced 10 times in the New Testament, always in relation to torment when an unbeliever dies their soul goes to Hades, where it is going to await the summons to the final judgment for the believer to be absent from the body is to be present with him. The Lord soul goes immediately translated to be with the Lord.

The body goes in the grave, so is telling us here that Hades delivers them and he also says that death and the sea was he talking about there so were their souls are their souls are and Hades is talking whether body just as every believer will have a bodily resurrection and reunion with their spirit so the unbeliever is coming to that summons where their body will be physically resurrected reunited with our soul that is been an torment in Hades and together now fitted for eternity.

They will stand before God means than they are fitted with immortal bodies that are eternally suited for hell able the last in the lake of fire forever. No one is missing no matter where their body was lying matter how decayed, were scattered there dust. John references the sea which is interesting.

He's dealing probably and that with his own culture. The believe that your ashes were scattered to the sea. Even the gods could never collect them back. John says that's not true. God will collected all he knows where every speck of dust exists. He knows where every strand of DNA is located and he will collected by his summons to this moment of reckoning. No one will be able to stay in the grave and pull the dirt up over their face in high those have been killed by accident or those of been able to die peacefully in her sleep. Those who were burned on some fiery tire are involved in, and in some Egyptian to those who were later asked in the satin line caskets are those who are buried in roughhewn pine boxes are wrapped in burlap or never got buried because they were eaten by wild animals. Those buried in marble vault surrounded by their treasures, they will all be raised by the judge as he calls forth every speck of there being every strand of DNA from caves and jungles and vegetation and animals and and in tombs and ghettos and Allison. They are summoned bodies arise reunited with their souls and John writes here in this text that I solve you imagine what he saw. I solve. He said I solve the dead the great ones in the small one to notice that in others he sent us all the impressive ice all the important movers and shakers. They stood equally guilty with the world's derelicts and dropout.

I saw the well connected but they had no strings to pull their the politically savvy the wealthy there. There standing next to the illiterates and the homeless is the great equalizer. The cross is the great equalizer for the redeemed. We are all equally sinful and we've come to Christ for salvation. Those who haven't stand this great equalizer is that the great white throne of God. This is judgment day ladies and gentlemen, there is there's nowhere to run.

There's nowhere to hide.

Everyone is simply suspended in space before this terrifying scene handy and you say to me either. You're just trying to frighten me. Is it working I would rather frighten you with the truth and pamper you with some foolish promise is it really doesn't matter. God will never do that, but how such a terrible place. I can imagine anybody.

I can't. The Bible tells me it's true there will be no anonymous Christians in eternity. Every Buddhist and every Baptist who played with their religion who somehow thought that they were good enough to spend eternity with God are in for a rude awakening.

The deceiver said thousands of years ago to our first parents basically the same message that is being delivered to your generation and mine is the same worldwide religious mumbo-jumbo, but it was it was believable in rebellion and Eve bought it. The message is basically a dye that means you don't have anything to worry about and in the future.

There is no problem. Don't even think about it. She ate Adam a and what happened, they became afraid and they ran in with these brief phrases were told the court of God's great white throne opens and there's nowhere to run nowhere to hide the judges on his throne. The condemned are summoned.

The prosecution is prepared. There is some defense we've learned in other texts that will come from the religious, but wait a second. We did everything we did in your name we were around say the name of Jesus when everything we did and he will say I never knew you will be some attempt, but ultimately every mouse will be closed no defense. The evidence will overwhelm every possible defense. Listen, don't demand the fair trial. Don't think you're going to stand before God and demand for you will get it, you will get a fair trial. The evidence will be overwhelming based on your deeds, that you deserve hell because your deeds have not been forgiven by Christ.

But listen, you know what you need to do is only one hope here's what you do settle out of court right they men settle à la carte. While there's time.

Go back to the judges chamber and match I'm guilty on the center.

I have no I can do nothing of myself I deserve a cement, under the verdict. I'm on my way to save me settlement can one day you will be able to stand at this courtroom scene is no settling personal plea bargaining Christian brought to life by the work of God in his life initiative, of his grace that he responded to as well. Things you will not stand for this great white settled. That was an extremely poor reminder from God's word.

You do not want to find yourself standing trial in this scene that Stephen just described, your only hope is to settle out of court. While you can.

Jesus Christ paid the penalty of sin for all who place their faith in him. I hope you'll do that today. This is wisdom for the heart. A ministry of wisdom international if you'd like to know more about the gospel and how you can have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

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