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When You Stand Before God
Contributed by James Lee on Oct 17, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: I often hear people make this statement: “As long as I pray and ask God to forgive me, NOW & THEN and try to be nice to people…I’ll get to heaven.”
I often hear people make this statement: “As long as I pray and ask God to forgive me, NOW & THEN and try to be nice to people…I’ll get to heaven.”
That sounds good but is it true. Is that all there is to getting to heaven?
I want you to know that each and every one of us…every man…every woman WILL stand before God to be judged. Jesus will be there to pass out the rewards or punishment that is coming.
I want to look at three things that will happen when you stand before God.
1. You stand on your past:
a. Your past works or deeds.
2Cr 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things [done] in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
b. Your past relationship with Christ.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
c. Past revelation. There will be no excuse for not knowing the Way…
Romans 1:18-22 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown [it] to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible [attributes] are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify [Him] as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
Romans 2:12-16 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law
13 (for not the hearers of the law [are] just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;
14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves,
15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves [their] thoughts accusing or else excusing [them])
16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
2. You will stand before the record:
Rev 20:12-13 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.
13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.
You will not stand before the record of man but of God. Man’s records can be manipulated but God’s record will stand without blemish.
a. God’s record will be embarrassing to many… “But Lord I went to Church!!”
b. God’s record will be revealing to others… “My whole life has been a lie”
3. You Will Be Forced To Admit the Fairness of God:
God made salvation available to everyone who will call on Him.
At Calvary Jesus paid the price for your sin and mine.
God has already loved you as much as He can and can not love you any less that He does…
Acts 4:12NLT There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.
Come to Jesus…NOW before it’s too late.