WHAT MUST I DO? WE MUST APPEAR AT THE JUDGMENT
2 CORINTHIANS 5:1-10
Big Idea: By realizing that we live in a tent, the Spirit of God lives in us, and that we will live with God, we can face the judgment with confidence.
SERIES INTRO
We are asking ourselves “What Must I Do?” and looking at the New Testament for answers. We have discovered that “Whatever God’s Word says I MUST do, God knows I CAN do!”
Paul said: “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
It is with the confidence of Christ’s help that we approach these Biblical charges.
Today we will read 2 Corinthians 5:1-10. You will notice the “Must” statement that is found in verse 10.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:1-10
1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
INTRO:
Are you afraid? Does it make you nervous when you think of meeting God face to face? When you think about giving account?
I get it if it does. Meeting a holy God is a sobering moment and to take it lightly would be foolish. Paul mentions it here because it is a big deal and he is not trying to downplay its gravity.
The judgment seat is literally the “bema” seat. This is not what is referred to as the “Great White Throne judgment” of the book of Revelation. The bema seat was located in the center of the town square and was, among other things, the place where rewards were handed out after the Olympic Games. As Warren Wiersbe says, the bema seat is not the place where Christians will face the penalty of their sin – that penalty has been paid and judged through the cross of Christ (John 5:24; Romans 8:1). The bema seat is the day of reckoning for our works of service. It is here that the character and quality of our service will be revealed. Passages like 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 and1 Corinthians 4:1-5 would support this.
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Cor. 3:10-15)
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I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. (1 Cor. 4:3-5)
Again, meeting God face to face is a serious, sober and terrifying event. That is why I find Paul’s “confidence” so encouraging … so helpful. Paul shows us that as Christ-followers fear can and should dissipate. I cannot help but notice that He shows no fear of the judgment. That does not mean he is flippant or casual about it but three times he speaks with confidence (vv. 1, 6, 8). Paul speaks soberly of facing God but not fearfully. What is true of Paul can be true of us too.
How do we face the judgment with hope like Paul? He gives us three reasons for confidence at life’s end.
I. WE CAN FACE THE JUDGMENT WITH CONFIDENCE WHEN WE REALIZE THAT WE LIVE IN A TENT (1-4)
** Special thanks to Rev. Steve Malone, Pastor of Maple Grove Christian Church in Charlottesville, Va. for this first point.
1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
Two times in these verses Paul refers to our body/physical earthly life as "living in a tent." Now Paul knew a lot about tents -- he was a tent maker and he was trying to teach us something about OUR physical life when he compares it to a tent....
There are two qualities about tents that I want to apply to our lives.
(i) TENTS ARE DESIGNED TO BE TEMPORARY
After Hurricane Sandy some victims were forced to live in a tent when their homes were destroyed. But I am confident that every one of them planned on this as being only a temporary situation no one intended on staying in those tents permanently.
Tents, are by definition, transitory and temporary.
(ii) TENTS ARE INSECURE
Remember the “Occupy Wall Street” craze of a few years back? One of the things that the occupiers quickly learned was how dangerous things could be even when they were amongst “like-minded” people. They lived in tents on Wall Street (and elsewhere) and some were raped, some had things stolen, and others were violated in other ways.
A tent does not make a very good fortress does it? You cannot dead bolt the door against intruders. It is made of canvass and it is not too good at keeping a wild animal out that wants to get in either. A tent is not the place we seek as shelter during the middle of a raging storm either, at any moment it could collapse or be blown away. A tent is uncertain at best.
In like manner this life is uncertain and vulnerable. It can be destroyed at any second. One moment things can be going pretty good and the next minute …
No matter how much insurance we buy, no matter how much money we save, or security systems we install; no matter how much of the world’s goods we accumulate the fact remains that this life it temporary and fragile.
I Samuel 20:3 King David said, “There is only one step between me and death.”
Was he right or what!?
My point is simple friends; Paul knew this was not our permanent residence – and he chose not live for what this life could offer. He lived in light of eternity and sought eternal rewards and that gave Him confidence for the life to come.
When we live for this life’s rewards our priorities become skewed and we can lose confidence at judgment. Let’s join Paul and live in light of that which is permanent.
I. WE CAN FACE THE JUDGMENT WITH CONFIDENCE WHEN WE REALIZE THAT WE LIVE IN A TENT (1-4)
II. WE CAN FACE THE JUDGMENT WITH CONFIDENCE WHEN WE REALIZE THAT GOD LIVES IN US (5-7)
5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by faith, not by sight.
Paul’s second expression of confidence is the indwelling of the Spirit. The Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit is our source of spiritual life, energy strength, and holiness here and now and our “pledge” for the life to come. The word “deposit” means “first installment” or “guarantee.” What God guarantees is as good as done. That’s why Paul had confidence to stand before God at the judgment. He knew that, with God’s guarantee, salvation was secure. The Spirit’s dwelling within is a personal guarantee that God will finish the task of salvation that He has begun.
Paul further points us in the direction of confidence when He says, “We live by faith, not by sight.” He was trusting God to keep His promise … his guarantee. You see, Paul’s hope at the judgment was not in Himself; his work, his pedigree nor anything else. He knew he was only justified by faith and it is faith in the work of Jesus and Jesus alone that qualified him for Heaven.
Paul is confident in the judgment because he is not looking at himself – he was trusting in Jesus Christ to equip Him for heaven. If we wish to have a such a confidence when we meet God we, too, will have to look to Jesus for that assurance.
I. WE CAN FACE THE JUDGMENT WITH CONFIDENCE WHEN WE REALIZE THAT WE LIVE IN A TENT (1-4)
II. WE CAN FACE THE JUDGMENT WITH CONFIDENCE WHEN WE REALIZE THAT GOD LIVES IN US (5-7)
III. WE CAN FACE THE JUDGMENT WITH CONFIDENCE WHEN WE REALIZE WE WILL LIVE WITH GOD (8-10)
8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
The Bible says “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” (1 John 3:3)
Faith is evidenced in our actions isn’t it? When are are looking for an eternal city we will begin to live like citizens of that city. God’s promise of eternity made Paul eager to serve the Lord –to honor Him. When he met God at judgment he wanted no regrets.
Did you know that God does not want you to fail?
Did you know that God wants you to be victorious!
Did you know that God has given you all the tools you need to serve him? What God says we must do God knows we can do! Because God has given us everything we need to accomplish His will.
You CAN please God! Some Christians simply don’t think they can so they never try.
The Christian’s desire to be in the presence of God is a signal of relationship and intimacy. Paul is looking at His reunion with Christ with longing. It showed itself in what he pursued, what he thought about, how he used his time, energy, and other resources.
When we seek a heavenly home it will revamp our life and lifestyle too.
WRAP-UP
WE CAN FACE THE JUDGMENT WITH HOPE WHEN WE REALIZE:
1. WE LIVE IN A TENT (1-4)
* We will not seek earth bound pursuits and rewards
2. GOD LIVES IN US (5-7)
* We will walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. This expresses itself in newness of life, love, joy, and and holiness.
3. WE WILL LIVE WITH GOD (8-10)
* Live your life anticipating a meeting with God. Serve him faithfully.
Every believer will appear before Him in judgment. This is the time to prepare. But the judgment seat need not be feared. Paul didn’t. It can be / should be a time of hope for the believer.
So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
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This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.or
