Distractions
Part One
“I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do (John 17: 4 NASB).” mi
These were the words of Jesus spoken in prayer to God the Father, shortly before His physical death.
The question is, will we be able to say the same, when our departure is on the horizon, or when we give our personal account of ourselves to God (Romans 14: 12) after arriving in Heaven.
To answer this question, one must have an understanding of exactly what was the work on Earth that God gave him or her to do.
Until one is born again, he or she can be relatively moral, can be religious, and can produce human good, yet still be spiritually dead, separated from God, and totally ignorant of the purpose and work that God has for him or her to do.
The moment that one is born again (John 3: 5, 7), he or she is forever “sealed – Eph. 4: 30” as a child of God by God the Holy Spirit. At that same time, God the Holy Spirit regenerates what had been one’s dead spirit with which we all come into this world.
It is because we all come into this world spiritually dead that we must be born again (John 3: 5, 7).
The salvation, eternal life, and regenerated spirit that one receives at the moment he or she is born again was not earned or deserved. Eternal life is a gift that God gives to all who believe in the Person and in the atoning Work of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3: 16).
The Romans 14: 12 accounting that takes place in Heaven is NOT for the purpose of determining who stays and who goes. One’s eternal location (Heaven or Hell) was already determined by the John 3: 18 choice that he or she made while here on Earth.
The moment that one is born again, his or her name is written down in the Lambs book of life. Being recorded there by the blood of Christ, it can never be erased.
Unbelievers, whose names are not recorded in this book, will be tossed into what Scripture calls the lake of fire (Rev. 20: 13, 15) at the appointed time. In the mean time, all departed unbelievers are suffering in Hades.
With the issue of one’s salvation behind him or her, one can then focus on identifying and doing the divine work that God has in mind for him or her to do throughout the course of his or her post (after) salvation spiritual life.
Not only do born again believers have their own regenerated spirit, but have God the Holy Spirit indwelling their bodies (1Cor. 3: 16) as their mentor and guide (John 14: 26), during their remaining time here on Earth.
Many disciples make the mistake of choosing an area of service and then seek God’s blessings on it. It is God the Holy Spirit (not us) that selects the individual spiritual gift and accompanying ministry (area of service) for each and every born-again believer (1Cor. 12: 11, 18).
Apart from God, to the extent that God allows, human beings can produce human good and services. God has used, is using, and will use both saved and unsaved persons and activities to ultimately accomplish His plan.
The classic example of this are the medical procedures that are performed by both saved and unsaved surgeons every day in operating rooms.
Here in the Church Age, divine good is produced by God through collaborating, Spirit-filled, born-again believers. Apart from God, no divine good can be produced (John 15: 5) by anyone.
When departed Church Age believers give an account of themselves to God (Romans 14: 12), sin will not be an issue (Romans 8: 1). The purpose for this accounting and evaluation (See 1Cor. 3: 12 – 15) is to separate our GOOD deeds that were accomplished with human resources from our GOOD deeds that were accomplished through us (John 15: 5), but performed by God.
Whatever awards, rewards, or compensation that our deeds of HUMAN good generate, are received here on Earth, and are left behind when we depart.
It is the deeds of divine good that God produces through us that are rewarded in Heaven.
Atheists and unbelievers can receive the same EARTHLY awards, rewards, and compensation for producing human good as Christians during their time here on Earth.
The devil encourages our natural inclination to focus on the here and now, whereas Scripture (Luke 12: 20, 21) speaks of the foolishness of becoming rich on Earth and not in Heaven.
If the deeds of human good entitled its producer to receive eternal life and divine reward, many atheists and unbelievers would have earned at least some time in Heaven and a reward. If the deeds of human good and “religious” ritual were the means of salvation, then there would have been no need for God the Son (Jesus Christ) to be incarnated and crucified.
The truth is that no amount of human good or religious ritual of Man can regenerate the dead spirit of an unbeliever, nor will deeds of human good entitle a believer to Heavenly reward (See 1Cor. 3: 14, 15).
To even enter Heaven, one must be born again (John 3: 5, 7). To produce divine good here on Earth, one must have the filling (Eph. 5: 18) of God the Holy Spirit who indwells (1Cor. 3: 16) the bodies of born-again believers.
It’s going to be a jaw-dropping experience for many Christians when they see what they thought was going to result in Heavenly reward going up in smoke (1Cor. 3: 15)!
In 1Cor. 3: 12-15 passage, our deeds of human good are symbolically represented as wood, hay, and straw. Human good has value here on Earth, but are “burned up” (rejected) as having any merit towards heavenly reward.
In 1Cor. 3: 12- 15, divine good is symbolically represented as gold, silver, and precious stones, able to endure the “fire” (judgment) of divine scrutiny, and qualifying for heavenly reward.
It will be the deeds of divine good that God produced through our collaboration that will be rewarded in Heaven. Our collaboration consists of having learned and applied the Word of God to our own lives, and having shared the Gospel Message and or edifying principles of Doctrine with others.
. . .
The general work that He has given the Church to do is laid out in the Great Commission recorded in Matthew 28: 19-20.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (by) teaching (them) to observe all that I commanded you…(Matt. 28: 19, 20 NASB parentheses mine).”
In the big picture, it’s the primary work of the evangelist to go outside of the local assemblies and proclaim the unadulterated Gospel Message to usually large audiences, affording unbelievers the opportunity to be saved. These audiences can consist of physical or virtual gatherings via modern day means of communication. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is a classic example of both physical and televised scenarios.
Just imagine if Peter and Paul had the Internet!
In the same big picture, it is the primary work of the pastor teacher to make disciples (students and appliers of the Word of God) out of the born-again believers that gather together as a congregation. These congregations can also gather together physically or virtually, as well. In Touch Ministries with Charles Stanley is a classic example of both scenarios.
Sometimes the role of the evangelist and the pastor- teacher overlap. Evangelists will use Biblical accounts and principles to lead up to a presentation of the Gospel Message. Pastor-teachers will often include “altar calls” and emphasize the need to be born again when teaching on post (after) salvation doctrine.
End of Part One
Part One
“I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do (John 17: 4 NASB).” mi
These were the words of Jesus spoken in prayer to God the Father, shortly before His physical death.
The question is, will we be able to say the same, when our departure is on the horizon, or when we give our personal account of ourselves to God (Romans 14: 12) after arriving in Heaven.
To answer this question, one must have an understanding of exactly what was the work on Earth that God gave him or her to do.
Until one is born again, he or she can be relatively moral, can be religious, and can produce human good, yet still be spiritually dead, separated from God, and totally ignorant of the purpose and work that God has for him or her to do.
The moment that one is born again (John 3: 5, 7), he or she is forever “sealed – Eph. 4: 30” as a child of God by God the Holy Spirit. At that same time, God the Holy Spirit regenerates what had been one’s dead spirit with which we all come into this world.
It is because we all come into this world spiritually dead that we must be born again (John 3: 5, 7).
The salvation, eternal life, and regenerated spirit that one receives at the moment he or she is born again was not earned or deserved. Eternal life is a gift that God gives to all who believe in the Person and in the atoning Work of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3: 16).
The Romans 14: 12 accounting that takes place in Heaven is NOT for the purpose of determining who stays and who goes. One’s eternal location (Heaven or Hell) was already determined by the John 3: 18 choice that he or she made while here on Earth.
The moment that one is born again, his or her name is written down in the Lambs book of life. Being recorded there by the blood of Christ, it can never be erased.
Unbelievers, whose names are not recorded in this book, will be tossed into what Scripture calls the lake of fire (Rev. 20: 13, 15) at the appointed time. In the mean time, all departed unbelievers are suffering in Hades.
With the issue of one’s salvation behind him or her, one can then focus on identifying and doing the divine work that God has in mind for him or her to do throughout the course of his or her post (after) salvation spiritual life.
Not only do born again believers have their own regenerated spirit, but have God the Holy Spirit indwelling their bodies (1Cor. 3: 16) as their mentor and guide (John 14: 26), during their remaining time here on Earth.
Many disciples make the mistake of choosing an area of service and then seek God’s blessings on it. It is God the Holy Spirit (not us) that selects the individual spiritual gift and accompanying ministry (area of service) for each and every born-again believer (1Cor. 12: 11, 18).
Apart from God, to the extent that God allows, human beings can produce human good and services. God has used, is using, and will use both saved and unsaved persons and activities to ultimately accomplish His plan.
The classic example of this are the medical procedures that are performed by both saved and unsaved surgeons every day in operating rooms.
Here in the Church Age, divine good is produced by God through collaborating, Spirit-filled, born-again believers. Apart from God, no divine good can be produced (John 15: 5) by anyone.
When departed Church Age believers give an account of themselves to God (Romans 14: 12), sin will not be an issue (Romans 8: 1). The purpose for this accounting and evaluation (See 1Cor. 3: 12 – 15) is to separate our GOOD deeds that were accomplished with human resources from our GOOD deeds that were accomplished through us (John 15: 5), but performed by God.
Whatever awards, rewards, or compensation that our deeds of HUMAN good generate, are received here on Earth, and are left behind when we depart.
It is the deeds of divine good that God produces through us that are rewarded in Heaven.
Atheists and unbelievers can receive the same EARTHLY awards, rewards, and compensation for producing human good as Christians during their time here on Earth.
The devil encourages our natural inclination to focus on the here and now, whereas Scripture (Luke 12: 20, 21) speaks of the foolishness of becoming rich on Earth and not in Heaven.
If the deeds of human good entitled its producer to receive eternal life and divine reward, many atheists and unbelievers would have earned at least some time in Heaven and a reward. If the deeds of human good and “religious” ritual were the means of salvation, then there would have been no need for God the Son (Jesus Christ) to be incarnated and crucified.
The truth is that no amount of human good or religious ritual of Man can regenerate the dead spirit of an unbeliever, nor will deeds of human good entitle a believer to Heavenly reward (See 1Cor. 3: 14, 15).
To even enter Heaven, one must be born again (John 3: 5, 7). To produce divine good here on Earth, one must have the filling (Eph. 5: 18) of God the Holy Spirit who indwells (1Cor. 3: 16) the bodies of born-again believers.
It’s going to be a jaw-dropping experience for many Christians when they see what they thought was going to result in Heavenly reward going up in smoke (1Cor. 3: 15)!
In 1Cor. 3: 12-15 passage, our deeds of human good are symbolically represented as wood, hay, and straw. Human good has value here on Earth, but are “burned up” (rejected) as having any merit towards heavenly reward.
In 1Cor. 3: 12- 15, divine good is symbolically represented as gold, silver, and precious stones, able to endure the “fire” (judgment) of divine scrutiny, and qualifying for heavenly reward.
It will be the deeds of divine good that God produced through our collaboration that will be rewarded in Heaven. Our collaboration consists of having learned and applied the Word of God to our own lives, and having shared the Gospel Message and or edifying principles of Doctrine with others.
. . .
The general work that He has given the Church to do is laid out in the Great Commission recorded in Matthew 28: 19-20.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, (by) teaching (them) to observe all that I commanded you…(Matt. 28: 19, 20 NASB parentheses mine).”
In the big picture, it’s the primary work of the evangelist to go outside of the local assemblies and proclaim the unadulterated Gospel Message to usually large audiences, affording unbelievers the opportunity to be saved. These audiences can consist of physical or virtual gatherings via modern day means of communication. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is a classic example of both physical and televised scenarios.
Just imagine if Peter and Paul had the Internet!
In the same big picture, it is the primary work of the pastor teacher to make disciples (students and appliers of the Word of God) out of the born-again believers that gather together as a congregation. These congregations can also gather together physically or virtually, as well. In Touch Ministries with Charles Stanley is a classic example of both scenarios.
Sometimes the role of the evangelist and the pastor- teacher overlap. Evangelists will use Biblical accounts and principles to lead up to a presentation of the Gospel Message. Pastor-teachers will often include “altar calls” and emphasize the need to be born again when teaching on post (after) salvation doctrine.
End of Part One