How to Do Life
Judgment Is Coming!
James 2:12-13
* Once when Alabama was playing Auburn, Coach Bear Bryant sent in his 2nd string quarterback with instructions to run on every play and he had better not pass the ball. Alabama led by three points and only had to run the clock out to win. Three downs in a row Alabama was crushed. On the fourth down with a few seconds left and Alabama ahead the quarterback took the snap. Looking into the end zone he saw his receiver so open the temptation was too great. He threw the ball only to see it intercepted. Though he was the slowest player on the field the 2nd string quarterback ran down the interceptor and Alabama won the game. After the game coach Dye of Auburn said to Bear Bryant, “How could that boy run down my boy who was so much faster?” “Simple,” answered Bear, “Your boy was running to score a touchdown – my boy was running to keep me from killing him!” Motivation is EVERYTHING!
* Additionally, one of the greatest motivations of all time is accountability. Weight watchers, groups dealing with addiction, multi-level business, and more all use accountability as motivation. When you are tempted to eat that piece (or have a 2nd piece) of pie and you know you’re going to have to give an account to the people at weigh in, you think twice about it. If you know that you are going to have to answer to your boss for time spent and wasted, you will make sure that you can completely account for your time. To know that we have to answer for our words or deeds causes us ‘pause.’
* Several months ago we began a journey through the book of James. After taking a 4 week’s break we are picking back up with our series of messages on “How to do life.” Turn to James 2:13-14.
* Three times in these two verses we read the word (in some form) ‘judgment’. Today’s message is not a popular message. It is not one which will be heard by the ‘positive preachers’ of the day. Candidly, it is not one that is given from many pulpits today because of the principle found in 2 Timothy 4. There are some things which people don’t want to hear, deal with, or be reminded of, because it hurts too deeply & strikes to close to home.
* Here it is: Judgment is coming! Judgment is coming to every person who has ever lived. This means every person, saved or unsaved, will be judged. Revelation 20 tells us that the lost person will be judged at the Great White throne. These are the people who have rejected Christ’s salvation. Christ is the only way. 2 Corinthians 5 tells the believers that we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Whether lost or saved, our judgment will be according to how we live our lives. Revelation tells the lost soul that he’ll be judged according to his works, while the believer (2 Cor. 5) will be judged according to the “DEEDS DONE IN THEIR BODY.” What deeds will these be? Our treatment of one another, the matter of using our influence, the reputation we have, and even the witness for Christ we are.
* Judgment is coming where we will be accountable. Since we cannot stop it, why now prepare for it and accept the truths about it. Three issues to know.
1. Know the Standard – (Verse 12). Whether we read the law of freedom or the law of Liberty makes little difference because in the context of our text, those words mean the same. The text says that we will be judge by God’s law of freedom. Don’t confuse the ‘law of ____ with the ‘law of freedom.’
a. Practically learn about the law of freedom. – This is a difficult issue for Americans because we have never lived one day in social bondage and somehow spiritual bondage has been largely downplayed. Too often we confuse the law of the land with the law of the Lord. One of the tenets of the American legal system is ‘innocent until proven guilty.’ The law of the Lord is ‘guilty until made innocent.’ The Bible tells us that, in our natural state, we are locked into sin and guilt. Since Genesis 3, there is no one who is innocent as sin holds every one of us in bondage. It is one thing to be in bondage, but it is another thing to be in bondage & not realize it. In 1998, a movie was released with actor Jim Carey starring in “The Truman Show.’ While I rarely to never recommend movies, the story line of this movie illustrates perfectly the idea of being in bondage & not realizing it.
* Truman was born in the largest studio ever constructed. He was adopted by the corporation who produced his show. His every movement was broadcast on a live presentation & the viewers we hooked on watching him live life. His entire life was controlled & chronicled without his knowledge. His life was seemingly normal. However, little things began to happen which gave his mind reason to think something was wrong and he began to search for answers. Ultimately he found his answers & gained his freedom.
* Candidly, we will never find answers and gain freedom, if we never know that we are in bondage. I was raised in a Christian home, grew up in the programs of the church, & was a very moral kid, but I was still in bondage. It was not until I KNEW about bondage that I could or would seek release.
b. Personally apply the law of freedom – How did I apply this law? I became free! How did I accomplish that? By the only true source of freedom in the universe, by placing faith in Christ. Freedom comes in Jesus. John is the authority, he writes, “When you KNOW the truth, the truth shall set you free.” Then he quotes Jesus who said, “I am the way, TRUTH, and Life.” Finally John writes, “If the Son sets you free, you really will be free.” Paul picks up this call by writing, “In Christ Jesus you are set free from the law of sin & of death” and for us to ‘stand firm in our freedom’ because we are ‘called to freedom.’ This mean we no longer are in bondage to the letter of the law but are free to live by the spirit of the law. Psalms 19 tells us that the law of the Lord is perfect for converting the soul, but I submit that the law of freedom is perfect for developing the heart.
* To apply the law of freedom does that means the ability to do wrong, this would be contrary to God’s word which says in Peter, “Do not use your freedom as a way to conceal evil.” In Galatians Paul to, “Don’t use it as an opportunity to serve the flesh.” Freedom comes through our submitting to Christ as our Savior and placing our faith in HIM. Then to prepare we must;
c. Properly live out the law of freedom – Since the standard by which we are judged is the law of freedom, we must have it at work in our lives each & every day. One warning: “Don’t confuse the human reasoning with divine righteousness.” Human reasoning will get us in trouble. Human reasoning is always opposite to divine reason. To live out the law of freedom means to be free to speak & act like Christ did. This means we will be judged by our salvation, our sanctification, and our service. This is the standard.
2. Know the Severity – (Verse 13a) According to what the Bible repeatedly says, ‘our being forgiven is tied to our granting forgiveness’ and the severity of the ‘judgment we receive’ is tied to the ‘mercy we give.’ This could well rival the most ignored teaching in the New Testament. Give serious thought to ‘judgment without mercy in the court of God.’ Additionally our judgment is tied to our forgiveness. Consider what Jesus had to say about this.
a. The Illustration - (Matthew 18:21ff) When Jesus tells this story He is following up to handling problems in the fellowship and is attempting to convey the seriousness of forgiveness. Jesus takes the story to the extreme so that His point is clear. My guilt is never in question, I’m guilty. However, how severe of a judgment I receive is dependent on my actions toward others. In Jesus’ story, forgiveness was withdrawn completely.
b. The Application - Very little impacts our judgment like our forgiveness, or better said, “Our lack of forgiveness.” This message is clear throughout the entire New Testament. In Matthew 6 Jesus begins His teaching with the Model Prayer, and then follows that prayer with commenting only on one part of his prayer, forgiveness. In Matthew 18 (have just read), Jesus ends this story with these sobering words; “If you don’t forgive from your heart, then the Heavenly Father will not forgive you.” I wonder just how many times and how many different ways this principle has to be stated before we, in the 21st Century, live by it. Perhaps it can be found the next truth;
c. The Personalization – This means ME and this means YOU! Sadly, I submit that when it comes to forgiveness we have learned to give lip service when life service is required. It never is about what they should do, it’s about what “I” should do. Yes, they hurt me. Yes, they did it deliberately. Yes, they do it consistently. No, they are not sorry for it. No, they don’t really care. No, resolution & restoration is not in the picture because it takes 2 and they will never. Still, God tells me to forgive just like Jesus did the soldiers on the cross. No one can offend me as deeply as I do the Lord.
3. Know the Solution – Judgment is indeed coming. It is coming to every person. Not one of us desires to receive the full-bore of God’s judgment. Many times I am asked, “If there is any punishment at the Judgment Seat of Christ, then it won’t be heaven—so everyone who gets there will be okay, right?” From scripture, it seems that the judgment seat and heaven will be different to different people. What will it be like to stand before God with everyone else receiving crowns for their life’s work and not getting one? What will it be like to stand empty handed before the Father? What will it be like to stand before the judgment seat with unconfessed sins or worse, deliberate sins? Those unknown of those thoughts send a chill through me. Let me offer 4 suggestions to help us be ready for judgment;
a. Be Merciful – The words of Jesus guide us, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” The words of James remind us, “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” KJV uses the words ‘rejoiceth against’ so I want to give you my word, “Mercy TRUMPHS judgment.’ If you play rook, then you know what a trump is and that describes pure mercy. We know what grace and mercy mean. That is God’s expectation for His people
b. Be Patient – Almost every place mercy is used in the New Testament, you’ll find little brother ‘patience’ following along. Here a simple progress of emotions for most; we lose our patience, then we lose our temper, then we lose our self-control, and then we lose our minds! (or at least it seems so). Humanly speaking, we are impatient when we think ourselves to be entitled. Consider how patient God has been with you and compare that enormous patience with the little patience which you and I are asked to show. Never forget that patience is a ‘fruit’ matured in the soil of the H.S.
c. Be Loving – Another fruit of the Spirit. Actually, Paul listed this as the chief fruit. Paul tells us we can be “all that” and if it’s not embraced in love, then nothing we do even counts. Love is not the ‘ooie-gooie’ feeling that we have, it is the deep care and concern which we have. For instance, you love your children. In fact, you love them so much that you are willing to inflict a little pain on them so that they can learn the true lessons of life. The Bible reminds us to speak the truth in love—which evokes patience—which results in showing mercy. The ‘suggestion’ I have is a submission.
d. Be Saved – To miss the most horrific judgment of all times, come to Jesus with your sin, hurt, and failure, and let Him give you a new life. (The LOVE Presentation)
PPTs are available at jwatts@hueytownbaptist.com
