WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.740 The most widely accepted statement of Christian 00:00:03.740 --> 00:00:06.019 doctrine written in the history of the Church 00:00:06.019 --> 00:00:12.480 is embodied in the Apostles' Creed. The document 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:17.640 consists of 110 words divided into 12 sections, 00:00:17.739 --> 00:00:24.120 and each section deals with a different segment 00:00:24.120 --> 00:00:30.109 of New Testament truth. Every cardinal doctrine 00:00:30.109 --> 00:00:37.869 of historical and evangelical Christianity is 00:00:37.869 --> 00:00:45.270 emphasized in the Apostles' Creed. This is the 00:00:45.270 --> 00:00:50.570 seventh of a series of messages that I am bringing 00:00:50.570 --> 00:00:58.670 on the Great Christian Pledge. I believe in God 00:00:58.670 --> 00:01:01.969 the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, 00:01:02.090 --> 00:01:08.349 and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, 00:01:08.549 --> 00:01:13.310 who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of 00:01:13.310 --> 00:01:18.530 the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, 00:01:18.750 --> 00:01:23.569 was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended 00:01:23.569 --> 00:01:26.769 into hell. and the third day he arose again from 00:01:26.769 --> 00:01:30.930 the dead. He ascended into heaven and sitteth 00:01:30.930 --> 00:01:33.870 on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. 00:01:35.170 --> 00:01:39.829 From thence he shall come to judge the quick 00:01:39.829 --> 00:01:44.349 and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the 00:01:44.349 --> 00:01:47.969 Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, 00:01:48.269 --> 00:01:53.469 the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of 00:01:53.469 --> 00:02:02.640 the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. From 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:09.740 thence he shall come to judge the quick and the 00:02:09.740 --> 00:02:13.500 dead. Judgment is not a pleasant subject upon 00:02:13.500 --> 00:02:19.039 which to meditate. No one likes the word, but 00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:23.780 believe me, it is deeply embedded in human existence. 00:02:26.019 --> 00:02:29.300 Conscience, the very conscience of every man 00:02:29.300 --> 00:02:34.460 warns of future retribution for sins committed 00:02:34.460 --> 00:02:40.580 unless they're wiped out through repentance in 00:02:40.580 --> 00:02:49.039 this life. Know that. Beloved, whether you believe 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:52.180 it or not, whether you will accept it or not, 00:02:53.479 --> 00:02:58.340 It is Bible truth that judgment is a reality. 00:02:59.379 --> 00:03:03.919 Reference to it belongs in the Christian pledge. 00:03:05.240 --> 00:03:09.439 The writers of the creed did not seek to gloss 00:03:09.439 --> 00:03:12.419 over the fact of retribution for sins committed 00:03:12.419 --> 00:03:19.599 in the flesh. No. Judgment is spoken of here 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:28.500 in the great... Apostles' Creed. Every sin demands 00:03:28.500 --> 00:03:34.900 wages and carries its own penalty. Let us pause 00:03:34.900 --> 00:03:37.520 for just a few moments and consider this thing 00:03:37.520 --> 00:03:42.939 of judgment. There's a glorious portion of God's 00:03:42.939 --> 00:03:47.580 Word that I want to give to you. And to me, it 00:03:47.580 --> 00:03:51.159 is one of the most thrilling words ever spoken. 00:03:54.479 --> 00:04:01.419 The believer's judgment as a sinner. Verily, 00:04:01.479 --> 00:04:07.000 verily I say unto you, he that heareth my word 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:11.539 and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting 00:04:11.539 --> 00:04:19.199 life and shall not come into condemnation. In 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:22.759 other words, and shall not come into judgment 00:04:22.759 --> 00:04:30.300 for his sin. but is past here and now, not future, 00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:35.579 but is past from death unto life. Read it. It's 00:04:35.579 --> 00:04:38.279 there in the fifth chapter of John, the 24th 00:04:38.279 --> 00:04:41.680 verse. Therefore, the believer's judgment for 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:46.660 sin is past and was settled at the cross. That's 00:04:46.660 --> 00:04:49.579 what salvation means. When we talk about regeneration, 00:04:49.899 --> 00:04:50.959 when we talk about the new birth experience. 00:04:51.720 --> 00:04:55.399 This is what is involved in being born again. 00:04:56.439 --> 00:05:00.540 At that time of your new birth experience, you 00:05:00.540 --> 00:05:07.720 have your judgment for sin. If we confess our 00:05:07.720 --> 00:05:11.620 sins, He's able and just to forgive us of our 00:05:11.620 --> 00:05:15.100 sins at that moment when that sin is confessed. 00:05:16.259 --> 00:05:20.939 The very moment that a man or a woman confesses 00:05:20.939 --> 00:05:25.819 he is a sinner and accepts Jesus Christ as his 00:05:25.819 --> 00:05:30.740 Savior from his sin that very moment, that one 00:05:30.740 --> 00:05:37.240 passes from death unto life. He that heareth 00:05:37.240 --> 00:05:41.639 my word and believeth on him that sent me hath 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:48.800 everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation. 00:05:49.659 --> 00:05:53.540 Therefore, the believer's judgment for sin is 00:05:53.540 --> 00:05:59.319 past. But there is a future judgment for the 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:02.899 believer, not as a sinner, but as a servant. 00:06:04.060 --> 00:06:09.240 There is a judgment for believers that is a judgment 00:06:09.240 --> 00:06:15.439 as to works. The place, the judgment seat of 00:06:15.439 --> 00:06:20.720 Christ. And that judgment is based on works. 00:06:20.860 --> 00:06:27.600 The result? Reward or loss of reward. This judgment 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:31.319 is future. Turn, if you will, please, to 2 Corinthians 00:06:31.319 --> 00:06:35.519 5, the 10th verse. We must all appear before 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:39.000 the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:43.420 receive the things done in the body. According 00:06:43.420 --> 00:06:46.620 to that he hath done, whether it be good, or 00:06:46.620 --> 00:06:51.759 bad. In other words, worthless. The pronoun we 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:55.319 occurs 26 times in the chapter. And in every 00:06:55.319 --> 00:06:59.300 instance, it means the believer. And the epistle 00:06:59.300 --> 00:07:02.259 is addressed to the church. And the saints at 00:07:02.259 --> 00:07:06.540 Corinth. So the judgment here spoken of is for 00:07:06.540 --> 00:07:11.379 believers only. The time of this judgment is 00:07:11.379 --> 00:07:16.819 when the Lord comes. And it will be before the 00:07:16.819 --> 00:07:20.660 judgment seat of Christ. It will not be a judgment 00:07:20.660 --> 00:07:23.660 in the sense of a trial to see whether the judged 00:07:23.660 --> 00:07:28.199 are innocent or guilty. For it is a judgment 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:33.660 of the saved only. It is not a judgment for sin, 00:07:33.819 --> 00:07:39.459 but for works. This judgment of which I am speaking 00:07:39.459 --> 00:07:45.740 is described in 1 Corinthians 3. I read, Other 00:07:45.740 --> 00:07:48.800 foundation can no man lay than that is laid, 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:53.420 which is Christ Jesus. Now if any man build upon 00:07:53.420 --> 00:07:56.720 this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, 00:07:57.100 --> 00:08:03.939 valuable building stones as marble, wood, hay, 00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:07.759 stubble, every man's work shall be made manifest, 00:08:07.980 --> 00:08:11.240 for the day, the judgment day, shall declare 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:14.480 it. because it shall be revealed by fire, and 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:17.180 the fire shall try every man's work of what sort 00:08:17.180 --> 00:08:21.079 it is. If any man's work abide, which he hath 00:08:21.079 --> 00:08:25.220 built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If 00:08:25.220 --> 00:08:28.720 any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:33.259 loss, for he himself shall be saved, yet so as 00:08:33.259 --> 00:08:37.519 by fire. Now the result of this judgment is reward 00:08:37.519 --> 00:08:42.679 or the loss of reward. All of our bad and dead 00:08:42.679 --> 00:08:46.600 works, represented by wood, hay, stubble, will 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:50.919 be consumed, and only our good works shall remain. 00:08:51.620 --> 00:08:54.559 There is much which passes for Christian service 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:59.460 which is merely human and secular and does not 00:08:59.460 --> 00:09:06.000 count in our eternal reward. Now, let's go on 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:12.720 and see the judgment. of the wicked dead. For 00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:17.679 all, all must appear before the judgment seat 00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:24.679 of Christ. All. The Christian, not for sin, but 00:09:24.679 --> 00:09:29.279 for reward. He appears as a servant. But the 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:35.840 wicked dead must appear. The time during the 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:41.379 renovation of the earth by fire. The place before 00:09:41.379 --> 00:09:47.059 the great white throne. This judgment is future. 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:49.779 I give you the word of God. The account is given 00:09:49.779 --> 00:09:51.399 in the Twins chapter of the book of the Revelation. 00:09:52.539 --> 00:09:56.580 It will take place at the close of the millennium, 00:09:56.600 --> 00:09:59.860 a thousand years after the judgment of the nations 00:09:59.860 --> 00:10:05.179 and before the great white throne. Now, the great 00:10:05.179 --> 00:10:08.470 white throne will not be on earth. For the great 00:10:08.470 --> 00:10:10.769 white throne judgment will take place during 00:10:10.769 --> 00:10:14.289 the renovation of the earth by fire. For the 00:10:14.289 --> 00:10:17.250 renovation of this earth is reserved or kept 00:10:17.250 --> 00:10:20.470 until the time of that judgment, which Peter 00:10:20.470 --> 00:10:26.649 calls the day of judgment, and perdition of ungodly 00:10:26.649 --> 00:10:30.669 men. Because the judgment of the great white 00:10:30.669 --> 00:10:34.389 throne is the judgment of the wicked dead. All 00:10:34.389 --> 00:10:37.769 the righteous dead will arise at the first. resurrection. 00:10:38.850 --> 00:10:42.509 If any righteous die before the first resurrection 00:10:42.509 --> 00:10:45.049 and the resurrection of the wicked or the second 00:10:45.049 --> 00:10:48.149 resurrection, they will rise with the wicked 00:10:48.149 --> 00:10:52.809 dead at that resurrection. The words, I quote, 00:10:53.470 --> 00:10:56.490 whose soul was not found written in the book 00:10:56.490 --> 00:11:01.090 of life implies that there will be some, probably 00:11:01.090 --> 00:11:04.809 very few, righteous at the second resurrection. 00:11:06.580 --> 00:11:09.320 Now, here is something that I want you to see 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:15.559 that to me is very marvelous. From thence he 00:11:15.559 --> 00:11:22.399 shall come to judge the quick and the dead. We 00:11:22.399 --> 00:11:29.200 know from this that Jesus will be the judge in 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:34.080 each instance. You will remember if you heard 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:40.679 my last. in the series of messages on the Apostles' 00:11:40.679 --> 00:11:45.500 Creed. We saw him in position of great high priest. 00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:50.840 The record says that our high priest was taken 00:11:50.840 --> 00:11:56.259 from among men, not from angels, because they 00:11:56.259 --> 00:12:00.240 are incapable of entering into a fellow feeling 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:07.049 with us. But Jesus knows human nature. He wore 00:12:07.049 --> 00:12:10.330 a garb of flesh. He lived among men. He knows 00:12:10.330 --> 00:12:12.149 our problems, our feelings, our limitations, 00:12:12.490 --> 00:12:16.690 our anxieties, our heartaches. He knows our weaknesses. 00:12:18.190 --> 00:12:21.730 For we have not an high priest which cannot be 00:12:21.730 --> 00:12:23.289 touched with the feeling of our infirmities, 00:12:23.429 --> 00:12:29.370 but watch it, but was in all points tempted like 00:12:29.370 --> 00:12:39.159 as we are, yet without sin. Remember who is going 00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:44.820 to be our judge. Not God the Father. How often 00:12:44.820 --> 00:12:47.240 we labor under the false impression that God 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:49.360 the Father is going to be our judge. He will 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:55.659 not be our judge. Jesus Christ will be our judge. 00:12:56.179 --> 00:12:59.980 He who was once as much man as though he were 00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:06.259 not God. He who was once God. in the body of 00:13:06.259 --> 00:13:10.879 flesh, who walked among men, who was touched 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:13.480 with the feeling of our infirmities, who was 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:17.139 tempted as any man in the flesh and yet without 00:13:17.139 --> 00:13:23.320 sin. Therefore, beloved, God has given him the 00:13:23.320 --> 00:13:29.000 authority, the position as judge, for he can 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:37.490 be a righteous judge, knowing... knowing temptation, 00:13:38.230 --> 00:13:46.629 knowing man's feeling as God could never know. 00:13:47.629 --> 00:13:49.870 How do I know that he's going to be our judge? 00:13:50.009 --> 00:13:52.809 The scripture says so. It's there in the 10th 00:13:52.809 --> 00:13:55.929 chapter of Acts. Referring to Jesus, the scripture 00:13:55.929 --> 00:14:00.990 says, him God raised up the third day and showed 00:14:00.990 --> 00:14:05.019 him openly. not to all the people, but unto witnesses 00:14:05.019 --> 00:14:09.879 chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:13.500 and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:17.659 And he commanded us to preach unto the people 00:14:17.659 --> 00:14:24.139 and to testify that it is he, referring to Jesus, 00:14:24.419 --> 00:14:31.700 which was ordained of God to be the judge of. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:43.820 Quick and dead. He will be our judge. Why? Because 00:14:43.820 --> 00:14:49.899 he once wore a garb of flesh. Because he knows 00:14:49.899 --> 00:14:55.820 human nature. He lived among men. He too was 00:14:55.820 --> 00:15:01.980 tempted. He knows our problems. He knows our 00:15:01.980 --> 00:15:09.220 weaknesses. He knows our heartbreak. Today he 00:15:09.220 --> 00:15:12.860 is in position of great high priest, ever living 00:15:12.860 --> 00:15:16.179 to make intercession for you and for me, ready 00:15:16.179 --> 00:15:21.019 to forgive, ready to intercede. But one day, 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:24.519 from thence, from the right hand of God the Father, 00:15:24.779 --> 00:15:29.120 he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. 00:15:30.059 --> 00:15:30.539 Amen.