Whitehall Baptist Church
April 12h | John : Jesus is God | John 5:25-30
1 John 5:13KJV1900
Acts 1:8KJV1900
Psalm 19:10KJV1900
- Your Words Are Wonderful
John 1:1KJV1900
John 1:14KJV1900
- In Christ Alone
- Bless The Lord, O My Soul
Romans 5:1KJV1900
- It Was Finished Upon That Cross
- JOHN 5:25-30 | THE FINAL JUDGMENTS PART 1ILLUSTRATION: Did your parents have difference voices they used when you were growing up?Depending on how they said my name I could determine what was coming next.They could say my name in the form of a question which would tell me they were looking for me.They could say my name with a bit sternness that would tell me I needed to pay attention.On occasion they would say my entire name including my middle name and when I heard that voice I immediately began questioning my life choices and trying to figure out if I could move in with one of my friends.Sometimes when that voice was used I would seek to pretend that I had acquired a recent deafness that resulted in an inability to hear their voice.And now that I am a parent, I too have acquired various voices that I use depending on the situation.And I too have watched as my children’s faces change depending upon which voice I use.I have even seen them at times attempt to act like they didn’t hear my voice.At which time I then say their entire name in a tone of voice they don’t want to hear.EXPLANATION: Last week we saw as Jesus made the most important proclamation that any of us could hear in v.24
John 5:24 KJV 1900 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.Everlasting life that is only possible if we hear God’s Word and respond God’s way and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.It is the most important message that anyone will ever hear, to trust in Jesus Christ for salvation.If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and have never accepted Him, can I encourage you to consider making that decision today.I’m asking for the Holy Spirit to convict some in this room today and for you to be willing to to respond to His conviction.Because God wants you to accept His gift of eternal life today!2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV 1900 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)As Jesus continues on speaking, He once again begins another verse by saying “verily, verily”, emphasizing the words He is about to speak.And what Jesus tells them is that the time is coming when the dead will hear his voice.Now this is troubling at first, because I was under the impression that when someone died, they could no longer hear.In fact, I can remember being in a graveyard as a kid and being told to “keep my voice down” and it was probably said in a stern voice.After all this time, I thought it was a respect thing, not that those who had passed could hear what I was saying!Now, of course I am clearly joking because there are no words or level of voice that I could use that a person who is deceased could hear.But Jesus very clearly tells these religious Jews that it is the dead that will hear His voice!And once again, we know that it’s because Jesus’s voice isn’t like my voice or your voice… His is the voice of God!We are reminded of what Jesus said just a few verses back in v.21, John 5:21John 5:21 KJV 1900 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.Yes, Jesus would bring back to life those who had died, such as Lazarus.But one day in what must be the greatest spoken miracle, Jesus’s voice will ring out and the dead will be raised once again.And when His voice rings out, no amount of time or distance will limit it’s reach.There will be no acting like you didn’t hear His voice, every person will hear it and will respond.Over the next few verses, Jesus speaks of two different events that those who are raised at His voice have the potential to end up at.For a few moments this morning, will you go with me to those days?Will you venture with me to those places, where when Jesus’s voice calls, every person here will end up at.Every person will be in one of these two places.ILLUSTRATION: When we were growing up, sometimes we would pretend to get into a ship and go back in time.Or maybe fly into the future.APPLICATION: This morning let’s climb onto that ship together.And let’s go into the future… maybe it’s months or years away… maybe it’s just hours from now.The Bible tells us, no more knows the day or the hour.But we can fly to these moments, and find our place at these times when the voice of Jesus is heard.V.25-29a, THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRISTJohn 5:25–29 KJV 1900 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.EXPLANATION: Jesus says there is coming a day that the voice of Christ will be heard and they shall live.He goes on at the beginning of v.29 and says it’s those that have done good… but that isn’t referring to good works to get to heaven… the Bible is clear that isn’t it.But what Jesus does in that verse is He splits the actions of those that know Christ from those who haven’t accepted Him.Those who have accepted Christ, should as a result, do good.Those who rejected Christ… They naturally do evil.But Jesus says, those that know Christ and hear His voice will be resurrected or raised to life.Jesus is giving a glimpse into an event called the rapturePaul talks of this in 1 Thessalonians 4:161 Thessalonians 4:13–16 KJV 1900 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:He mentions the instantaneousness of it in 1 Corinthians 15:521 Corinthians 15:52 KJV 1900 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.The Bible says the Lord will descend with a shout, and then their will be the voice of the archangel, and then the trump of God will sound.And it all happens in a moment… or the twinkling of an eye.Scientist have estimated the twinkling of an eye is 11/100ths of a second.All those who have received Christ and died, and those who have received Christ and are alive at the time His voice sounds will be called up to meet to the Lord in the air!1 Thessalonians 4:17 KJV 1900 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.Now this is fascinating, because the Bible tells us a lot is going to happen in that moment that Jesus voice sounds.First, all those who have already died and are with Christ…2 Corinthians 5:8 KJV 1900 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.Those who had trusted in Christ and died are with Him…And then when the voice of God sounds, they will come back with Him.1 Thessalonians 4:14 KJV 1900 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.Now you say, why are they coming back with Him?So they can go down and get there physical body and bring it with them back to be with Jesus and be changed into their glorified bodies!WHAT?We don’t have a hard time understanding this when it comes to those who are alive and remain…Their physical bodies will be called up to meet the Lord in the air and to be changed into their glorified bodies!1 John 3:2 KJV 1900 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV 1900 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.Philippians 3:20–21 KJV 1900 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.Colossians 3:4 KJV 1900 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.Oh man, one day, Jesus’s voice is going to sound and I’m gonna disappear off of this earth!Whether by way of an empty casket left behind or maybe I’ll be standing up here preaching!If that happens, can someone turn off the lights and lock the doors?NO! Don’t be that guy! Accept Christ here this morning!And then we are going to stand before Jesus as our Judge at the Judgment Seat of Christ.2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV 1900 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.Now this isn’t in regards to our eternal destination… that’s already been settled.We saw that last week in v.24 John 5:24John 5:24 KJV 1900 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.The word “hath” there is in the present, meaning at the moment you believe on Jesus Christ, you have everlasting life that starts then and never ends!It’s yours and you can never lose it!No, at the Judgment Seat of Christ you will be judged for how you lived after you accepted Christ as your Savior.And it will be clear what you did for Christ, and when you lived for yourself.Paul dives into this in 1 Corinthians 3, and he tells us this isn’t light stuff he is getting into.1 Corinthians 3:1–2 KJV 1900 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.He says, some of you are going to struggle accepting this because you are a carnal Christian and not a Spiritual Christian.The word carnal means “fleshly”… living after the flesh.He goes on and explains that some were arguing over who was better based on who they were saved under1 Corinthians 3:4–5 KJV 1900 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?Paul makes clear, it doesn’t matter where you came from or what earthly accolades you are looking to receive… You were saved by the Lord so live for His glory.In then he gets to v.8, and this is where he begins to turn our attention to the day we will stand before the Lord: 1 Corinthians 3:81 Corinthians 3:8 KJV 1900 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.Now before you start tooting your own horn listen to what he says next: 1 Corinthians 3:9-101 Corinthians 3:9–10 KJV 1900 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.You see your life is God’s building…Paul is going to get there in this passage when he says1 Corinthians 3:16–17 KJV 1900 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.So what you do with your life as a Christian matters.But now, he brings us back to the Judgment Seat:1 Corinthians 3:11–15 KJV 1900 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.One day you will stand before God and all of the works that you did following salvation are going to be cast into this fire.And the fire will reveal what was done for Christ and what was done for ourselves.All those times you did something for the praise of manAll those times you did it to get some awardAll those times you did something, just so you could receive the thanks from someoneEvery act of service done from a selfish motivationThe Bible says all of those will burn up…There will be a smoking heap of ash in front of you.But all of those times that you served Christ because you loved HimThe times you handed out an invitation to churchThe times you cleaned up and no one was watchingThe times you changed a dirty diaper so that mom could be in the serviceThe times you volunteered at Awana even though it cut into your Sunday napThe times you set up or tore down for the Outdoorsman Night or Easter SundayThe times you handed out a Gospel tract that no one else knew aboutThe Bible says those acts of service will be turned into gold, silver, and precious stone.Those will be your rewards.Matthew 6:19–21 KJV 1900 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.ILLUSTRATION: When I was the youth pastor here, we challenged our teenagers to hand out church invitations and leave them places for people.I’ll never forget I pulled up to the corner store gas station and I went to get gasWhen I grabbed the handle tucked into it was an invitation to our church.I was so excited!Tressa and I tried to speculate which teen did it, but I didn’t want to say anything… Because I didn’t want to rob them of their heavenly reward!EXPLANATION: You see, one day, that person who was a teenager at the time, will stand before Jesus.And on that day, there will be things that burn up that they did for themselves that didn’t matter for eternity.Treasures that were laid up on this earth.But after the first finishes, I know what thing that will still be there… it’ll be a little church invitation that was put in that gas pump.Something that was done out of service for the Lord.Something that was done not for praise but because they loved God.And that little invitation will turn into gold, or silver, or a precious stone.And that reward will be a gift they will get to present directly to Jesus… because they did it for Him!What joy there will be when that person gets to give their gift to Jesus, the One Who gave everything for them!Oh the song says it best, “it will be worth it all, when we see Jesus.”APPLICATION: Friend, one day when the voice of Jesus calls, and you stand before Him, what will be left when the fire finishes burning?Will it just be a heap of ash?Ash from a life lived for yourself and the comforts and enjoyments of this earth?Listen there’s nothing wrong with those things… they just wont last.Or will there be and gold, silver, or precious stones that you get to give back to Jesus?ILLUSTRATION: In my closet at home, I have a spot where I keep some of the special things I’ve received from my kids.Most of them are little homemade cards or notes they gave me.Sometimes their are little pictures that are drawn of me and them together.And I love them so much.I don’t know if it’s a dose of the sentimental I got from my mom or what… but I love them.You know, those drawings and cards aren’t worth anything monetarily.They wouldn’t mean anything to you other than a few ladies that might say “awww”But they are precious to me.Because I’m their daddy… and they did them just for me.APPLICATION: Friend, what will you have to give to your heavenly Father someday?One day the voice is going to call and you will know that voice… it’s the voice of your Heavenly Father.I wonder if you will have a feeling of, “Oh no… I’m not ready… There was so much I wanted to do.”Or I wonder if you’ll be able to stand before Him with your arms full of gold, silver, and precious stones, because you lived your life doing things that may not have mattered to anyone else.They may not have been noticed… but you did it all for Him!Christian, let’s be ready to stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ!And let’s get ready by living for Him today! John 5:25–30KJV1900
John 5:24KJV1900
2 Corinthians 6:2KJV1900
John 5:21KJV1900
John 5:25–29KJV1900
1 Thessalonians 4:13–16KJV1900
1 Corinthians 15:52KJV1900
1 Thessalonians 4:17KJV1900
2 Corinthians 5:8KJV1900
1 Thessalonians 4:14KJV1900
1 John 3:2KJV1900
2 Corinthians 3:18KJV1900
Philippians 3:20–21KJV1900
Colossians 3:4KJV1900
2 Corinthians 5:10KJV1900
John 5:24KJV1900
1 Corinthians 3:1–2KJV1900
1 Corinthians 3:4–5KJV1900
1 Corinthians 3:8KJV1900
1 Corinthians 3:9–10KJV1900
1 Corinthians 3:16–17KJV1900
1 Corinthians 3:11–15KJV1900
Matthew 6:19–21KJV1900
