Sagacity ...a sermon about judgment
by Chris Cumming                                                                                     printer-friendly    MP3
            
Let me begin this sermon by talking about the title, sagacity [suh-gas-i-tee].

Sagacity, noun
1. acuteness [intenseness] of mental discernment and soundness of judgment.

This sermon is an immersion into the doctrine on Judgment. The purpose of this sermon is to encourage all of us to learn and understand judgment.

Understand judgment

DOCTORAL STATEMENT

The time of one's judgment is the time of his opportunity for salvation, extending from one's calling by God until his death (or the resurrection). During this judgment period a person's mind is opened to understand God's way, and his actions and attitudes are being evaluated by God in the light of His way of life and His law. All human beings from all time shall have a full opportunity for salvation either now (for the Church), or during the one-thousand-year reign of Christ on earth, or in the Great White Throne Judgment. Those who shall qualify for God's Kingdom-the overwhelming majority-shall inherit eternal life, and those who deliberately reject God's way shall be consumed in the lake of fire.

DOCTRINAL OVERVIEW

One of the most awesome truths of God is that all mankind from all time shall have an opportunity for salvation-the attainment of eternal life in the family of God. No human being is doomed forever simply because he has never heard of Christ's name or never really understood God's purpose and plan. God makes it adequately plain that He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). He intends to give everyone a chance to know and understand His truth and to have the opportunity to be with Him in His glorious Kingdom (cf. 1 Timothy 2:4).

Quoted verses:
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

1 Timothy 2:4 [see Lesson]
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
 

Now continuing in our doctrinal statement:

Combined with this thrilling truth that all men shall have an opportunity for salvation is the fact that all men will not receive this opportunity at the same time. The time during which each individual is receiving his chance is the time of judgment. The term "judgment," as used in this context, is not restricted to passing sentence. It rather implies a process, a period of time during which a person's mind is opened to understand God's plan, and during which his actions are under daily scrutiny by God in the light of that understanding. God is intimately concerned with His children, and works in their lives to produce the best ultimate results. The parable of the tares of the field shows that Christians start out as seeds and must grow until the harvest (Matthew 13:36-43). Of course, this judgment process shall in most people's lives cover a period of many years. It is only at the end of this period that God shall make the decision of whether or not that person shall enter His Kingdom at the resurrection.

Note: Some have asked where I got the term, "salvation process." It is right there in this and our other doctrinal statement. It says here, "It rather implies a process, a period of time."

Note: Notice the last sentence in what I just read from the statement: "It is only at the end of this period that God shall make the decision of whether or not that person shall enter His Kingdom." It point of fact, what you do in the salvation process makes that decision

Quoted verses:
Matthew 13:36-43
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

But judgment involves more than just making a "yes" or "no" decision, more than the simple determination of whether a person shall be granted salvation; for, indeed, the overwhelming majority shall make it. Judgment also involves the reward that God shall give to each person who qualifies. There are different positions and responsibilities in God's family. As Jesus related in the parable of the pounds (Luke. 19:12-27), the servants who used their pounds profitably were all given positions of rulership, but the level or degree of their position was directly proportional to how much they had accomplished. The parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) shows that God rewards each person according to what he accomplished in relationship to what he had to start with. The servant who started with two talents and made two received the same reward as the servant who started with five and made five.

Quoted verses:
Luke 19:12-27
12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

Matthew 25:14-30
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

God has divided His plan into three great judgment periods, each of which deals specifically with a different classification of persons. The first period of judgment began at the creation of man and shall continue until the return of Jesus Christ. During this era, God has not chosen to call the vast majority of persons, but rather a small group-"the elect" (Romans 8:28 ff). These "elect" have had their minds opened to understand God's truth and have been given God's Holy Spirit in this age. For these persons-who compose the Church or "house of God"-the period of judgment is now. "For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God" (1 Peter 4:17). Those whom God has called now are not called because of an inner desire to serve God, but by virtue of God's mercy (Romans 9:15-16).

Quoted verses:
Romans 8:28a
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,

1 Peter 4:17
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Romans 9:15-16
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Notice the commentary on this last phrase:

But of God that showeth mercy - Salvation in its beginning, its progress, and its close, is of him. He has a right, therefore, to bestow it when and where he pleases. All our mercies flow from his mere love and compassion, and not from our deserts. The essential idea here is, that God is the original fountain of all the blessings of salvation. ~Barnes Notes

God has not called the masses now because He wants man to learn by experience that his way apart from God is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12). Those whom He does call now are called for the express purpose of preaching the gospel to the world as a witness (Matthew 24:14; 28:19-20) and to prepare to become rulers in God's millennial Kingdom (Revelation).

Quoted verse:
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

For, "a way which seemeth right" the commentary says, "the way of the fool, the way of self-indulgence and self-will." ~Barnes Notes

Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

All those who have qualified for God's Kingdom from Adam's time to the return of Christ shall be resurrected at His return. The end of this first judgment period is thus marked by the first resurrection (Revelation 20:5-6).

Quoted verse:
Revelation 20:5-6
5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

During His thousand-year reign, Christ and the saints shall reestablish God's government on earth (Micah. 4:1-4) and shall reconstruct society so that in every way it conforms to God's holy laws. God shall also pour out His Spirit upon all those who will be alive during this time, and shall open their minds to understand the gospel and give them a chance for salvation. The millennium thus marks the second great judgment period of God, the time when the human beings who live on into the new age (from the present age) and those subsequently born as their offspring shall have their opportunity for salvation.

Quoted verse:
Micah 4:1-4
1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.

Note: What a time to be a human!! What a time to be born into. Jesus Christ is ruling, Satan is put away and there is a much-reduced opportunity for worldliness. Helpers in salvation are everywhere and ever-present. What possible excuse could there be for dropping from the process?

After the thousand-year period, there is, the "Great White Throne" judgment. This spectacular event epitomizes the time when all who have ever lived and died without having had a chance for salvation, never having heard about Jesus Christ and the plan of God, or never having had their eyes opened to truly understand the gospel-shall be resurrected from the dead to physical life (Revelation 20:11 ff). This time their minds shall be opened to a full understanding of God's laws and His truth.

Quoted verse:
Revelation 20:11a
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

"Behold, I will open your graves, and raise you from your graves ... And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done it, says the Lord" (Ezekiel 37:12-14).

Quoted verse:
Ezekiel 37:12-14
12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.

This third judgment period is the greatest of the three because it includes the innumerable multitudes of all humanity who have lived and died in ignorance of God's way.

Although God wants all to come to the knowledge of His truth and earnestly desires that all obtain salvation, it is nevertheless true that some few shall totally reject God and lose out on eternal life. Those who have adamantly rejected this truth-those who have committed the unpardonable sin by not asking God to pardon their sins-shall be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14). These individuals are those who would never repent of their sins and shall therefore be put out of their misery by a merciful God. It would be cruel punishment for God to make a rebellious person live forever under His government when that individual has permanently rejected God's government in his life by his actions and attitudes.

Quoted verse:
Revelation 20:14
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

God's fairness, concern and love for mankind is exemplified by the three judgment periods outlined above. His plan for salvation includes ample opportunity for all those who have ever lived and died to live a full physical life under God's laws, and then to qualify to enter His Kingdom, and, ultimately, to gain eternal life as full members of His divine family.

So go now and understand judgment.

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