1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,580 you’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. To contact 2 00:00:07,580 –> 00:00:16,920 us, call us at 1 877 Open 365 or visit our website OpenTheBible.org let’s get to 3 00:00:16,920 –> 00:00:23,120 the message here is Pastor Colin. Well please open your Bible at 2nd 4 00:00:23,120 –> 00:00:27,379 Corinthians and chapter 5 and we’re looking today especially at verse 9 5 00:00:27,379 –> 00:00:35,500 where we read whether we are at home or away we make it our aim to please him to 6 00:00:35,500 –> 00:00:41,779 please our Lord Jesus Christ. Now last week as we began this series we saw that 7 00:00:41,779 –> 00:00:47,220 second Corinthians in Chapter 5 in its heart is telling us why Christians do 8 00:00:47,220 –> 00:00:52,959 not lose heart. Paul sets out that theme both at the beginning and the end of 9 00:00:53,000 –> 00:00:58,320 chapter 4 you see it in verse 1 of chapter 4. If you go back just a page 10 00:00:58,320 –> 00:01:02,060 there having this ministry by the mercy of God we do not lose heart 11 00:01:02,060 –> 00:01:09,519 and then in verse 16 he says it again so we do not lose heart and he then says in 12 00:01:09,519 –> 00:01:15,160 chapter 5 as he’s explaining why this is in greater detail he puts it positively 13 00:01:15,160 –> 00:01:20,959 verse 6 that we just read we are always of good courage that’s the positive way 14 00:01:20,959 –> 00:01:24,820 of saying we don’t lose heart and he says the same thing again in verse eight 15 00:01:24,820 –> 00:01:33,440 yes we are of good courage and so how we can be people of good courage and people 16 00:01:33,440 –> 00:01:40,160 who don’t lose heart really is the theme of this great chapter and we need this 17 00:01:40,160 –> 00:01:44,639 encouragement of the scripture there are so many reasons why we can become 18 00:01:44,639 –> 00:01:50,139 discouraged reasons why we can lose heart and one of them that we looked at 19 00:01:50,339 –> 00:01:57,220 last time is simply the difficulty of life in this body the body that you and 20 00:01:57,220 –> 00:02:02,839 I live in this body is like a tent the Apostle Paul says and the tent is a 21 00:02:02,839 –> 00:02:06,400 fragile structure while we’re grateful for it 22 00:02:06,400 –> 00:02:14,179 it gives us plenty of trouble, canvas sags, the ropes fray the pegs bend and 23 00:02:14,179 –> 00:02:18,539 the tent which is your body is an adequate housing for the time being but 24 00:02:18,539 –> 00:02:23,940 it was never intended to be your final home and if you think about it the 25 00:02:23,940 –> 00:02:30,800 difficulties of life in the body often get us down they are discouraging put 26 00:02:30,800 –> 00:02:35,380 together all the sicknesses that come through the body all the stresses that 27 00:02:35,380 –> 00:02:39,539 come through life and the body and all the temptations that come through life 28 00:02:39,539 –> 00:02:45,740 in the body and it is very easy to lose heart and so we saw last week that God 29 00:02:45,740 –> 00:02:50,940 to help us and encourage us wonderfully pulls back the curtain shows us 30 00:02:50,940 –> 00:02:56,440 something about the life that is to come chapter 5 and verse 1 if this tents that 31 00:02:56,440 –> 00:03:03,460 is our earthly home is destroyed we know that we have a building from God a house 32 00:03:03,460 –> 00:03:10,279 that is not made with hands that is eternal in the heavens and so we saw as 33 00:03:10,279 –> 00:03:14,860 we started the series that a Christian as a person with two homes and that when 34 00:03:14,880 –> 00:03:20,419 your soul moves from the tent of your body which is its present home you will 35 00:03:20,419 –> 00:03:26,220 move into the building it will be an instant house move and it will be very 36 00:03:26,220 –> 00:03:32,179 wonderful indeed and we saw we ended up in verse five last week where we saw 37 00:03:32,179 –> 00:03:35,919 this wonderful truth that God has prepared you for this very thing if 38 00:03:35,919 –> 00:03:39,279 you’re a Christian here’s the marvelous truth about you you 39 00:03:39,279 –> 00:03:43,960 are prepared for this you’re already ready because God has sent his Son into 40 00:03:44,000 –> 00:03:48,460 the world to prepare the place for you and he has sent the Spirit into your 41 00:03:48,460 –> 00:03:58,179 heart to prepare you for the place so we do not lose heart now today we look at 42 00:03:58,179 –> 00:04:03,979 the question of not losing heart from another angle and having got to 2nd 43 00:04:03,979 –> 00:04:11,779 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 5 someone might reasonably say okay so God 44 00:04:11,800 –> 00:04:17,040 has something better prepared for me in the future someday I’m going to move out 45 00:04:17,040 –> 00:04:21,679 of the tent that’s causing me a lot of trouble and into the marvelous building 46 00:04:21,679 –> 00:04:29,880 prepared by Jesus Christ Himself I get that but here’s my question what then 47 00:04:29,880 –> 00:04:36,660 exactly is the purpose of my life now what is the point of the life I have 48 00:04:36,839 –> 00:04:43,779 here in this tent and in this world I mean here I am in the tent and the 49 00:04:43,779 –> 00:04:49,220 canvas seems to be sagging a bit the ropes seem to be fraying the pegs are 50 00:04:49,220 –> 00:04:54,079 bending the rain is somewhat coming in what is the point of this existence am I 51 00:04:54,079 –> 00:05:00,959 simply doing time in the tent until god sees fit to let me out of the tent and 52 00:05:00,959 –> 00:05:04,119 then I go into the building and everything’s going to be so much better 53 00:05:04,260 –> 00:05:11,040 I hear what you say about the joys of the life to come my question is what is 54 00:05:11,040 –> 00:05:19,619 the point of the life that I have right now now we don’t know the phrase that a 55 00:05:19,619 –> 00:05:26,859 person can be so heavenly minded as to be no earthly use and it’s very 56 00:05:26,859 –> 00:05:30,200 interesting when you think about that phrase that actually the Apostle Paul in 57 00:05:30,200 –> 00:05:36,540 the New Testament had to rebuke some Christian believers who had basically 58 00:05:36,540 –> 00:05:41,720 given up on this life they thought a great deal about heaven and about the 59 00:05:41,720 –> 00:05:45,839 coming of the Lord Jesus Christ but they had basically come to the conclusion 60 00:05:45,839 –> 00:05:50,660 what’s the point in working I mean what is the value really in in going and 61 00:05:50,660 –> 00:05:55,079 earning a living in the light of this great eternity that is ahead and so they 62 00:05:55,079 –> 00:05:59,640 basically dropped out and Paul has to deal with that you can read it in 2nd 63 00:05:59,679 –> 00:06:05,559 Thessalonians in chapter 3 you will find that God places the highest importance 64 00:06:05,559 –> 00:06:11,600 on our life with its difficulties here in this world and he therefore calls us 65 00:06:11,600 –> 00:06:17,880 to do the same and I do want to encourage you with regards to this I’ve 66 00:06:17,880 –> 00:06:23,420 had many conversations over a period of time with folks in the congregation and 67 00:06:23,420 –> 00:06:27,980 many of you have expressed something like this you know I look at my life and 68 00:06:28,000 –> 00:06:34,679 the light of eternity and here I am and I have this job and what is the point of 69 00:06:34,679 –> 00:06:40,320 what I am doing I mean I’m making money I’m making widgets or whatever it is but 70 00:06:40,320 –> 00:06:45,959 what does that really matter in the light of the big picture and this is a 71 00:06:45,959 –> 00:06:53,299 real question you’re asking what is the point what is the value of life in the 72 00:06:53,880 –> 00:07:00,260 life here as I’m giving it right now in this world and the heart of the message 73 00:07:00,260 –> 00:07:05,279 today what I prayed for today and for this weekend in our services is that you 74 00:07:05,279 –> 00:07:12,399 will be encouraged with a new sense of the purpose of your life in this world 75 00:07:12,399 –> 00:07:19,959 even at its most frustrating even at its most frustrating and perhaps we will see 76 00:07:20,260 –> 00:07:28,019 especially at its most frustrating God has great purpose for you in your life 77 00:07:28,019 –> 00:07:33,239 in this world so I hope you have your Bible open at 2nd Corinthians and chapter 78 00:07:33,239 –> 00:07:36,019 5 now you’ll see there’s straight away if 79 00:07:36,019 –> 00:07:40,920 you look at verse 6 and verse 8 that the Christian life or the life of a 80 00:07:40,920 –> 00:07:46,820 Christian is really in two parts and very encouraging Lee both of them are 81 00:07:47,019 –> 00:07:54,079 described as being at home for sex we know that while we are at home in the 82 00:07:54,079 –> 00:07:59,160 body we are away from the Lord verse 8 we would rather be away from the body 83 00:07:59,160 –> 00:08:06,739 and at home with the Lord so here is the Christian we said last time a person 84 00:08:06,739 –> 00:08:15,640 with two homes one life that is lived in two very unequal parts now I am 85 00:08:15,720 –> 00:08:21,160 now I am at home in the body that’s a description of our life now in this 86 00:08:21,160 –> 00:08:26,079 world and while we are at home in the body we are as Christian believers in 87 00:08:26,079 –> 00:08:31,640 Christ and we’re living this life in the body by faith that’s why he says in 88 00:08:31,640 –> 00:08:38,260 verse 7 we walk by faith and not by sight so as long as I am living this 89 00:08:38,260 –> 00:08:44,460 life in the body I live in Christ and by faith and I will experience many 90 00:08:44,479 –> 00:08:48,419 pressures many difficulties many frustrations and all the rest of it the 91 00:08:48,419 –> 00:08:52,039 tent sags it wears out the pent bend and eventually the whole thing will be 92 00:08:52,039 –> 00:08:58,419 taken down but when that happens as we saw last time I will be at home with the 93 00:08:58,419 –> 00:09:05,739 Lord I will move and you will move as a Christian believer from living in Christ 94 00:09:05,739 –> 00:09:15,340 and by faith to living with Christ and by sight and it is a very very wonderful 95 00:09:15,340 –> 00:09:21,539 change that will take place these are the two parts of a Christians 96 00:09:21,539 –> 00:09:28,400 one life life in the body life with the Lord and 97 00:09:28,400 –> 00:09:34,359 they are two very unequal parts to be with the Lord the Apostle Paul says in 98 00:09:34,380 –> 00:09:40,419 Philippians, is better by far. It is incomparably better and it is 99 00:09:40,419 –> 00:09:52,460 unimaginably longer. The Christian has one life in very unequal parts, but it is 100 00:09:52,460 –> 00:09:59,119 one life. Now, many of you will have lived your life in more than one place I was 101 00:09:59,119 –> 00:10:04,020 just reflecting on on my own life, just trying to think of illustrating this by 102 00:10:04,059 –> 00:10:11,260 my way of experience and my life so far in this world has been in two parts 103 00:10:11,260 –> 00:10:21,500 and I have been at home in two places. Part 1 was in the United Kingdom for 104 00:10:21,500 –> 00:10:28,580 38 years. Part 2 of my life has been here in the United States. It has lasted for 105 00:10:28,619 –> 00:10:39,099 18 years and it is continuing but it is one life and it has been lived in two 106 00:10:39,099 –> 00:10:48,380 very different places. There’s continuity of memory and of experience I have known 107 00:10:48,380 –> 00:10:55,840 myself to be in the UK I know myself here to be in the U.S. it’s my life it 108 00:10:56,039 –> 00:11:04,700 continues unbroken in the marvelous continuity of the life that God gives to 109 00:11:04,700 –> 00:11:08,340 me and many of you will be able to translate that into your own particular 110 00:11:08,340 –> 00:11:14,119 story and some of you living in multiple places at different times in your life 111 00:11:14,119 –> 00:11:17,640 now this is true of you as a Christian just try and think of what you 112 00:11:17,640 –> 00:11:24,059 experienced in this world and project it out onto the totality of your life you 113 00:11:24,059 –> 00:11:30,299 have one life your life begins here when you’re at home in the body and it will 114 00:11:30,299 –> 00:11:36,539 continue an unbroken continuity as you pass through death it will continue as 115 00:11:36,539 –> 00:11:41,799 you are at home with the Lord you will know yourself to be there as much as you 116 00:11:41,799 –> 00:11:47,419 know yourself to be here and you will look back with an awareness of all the 117 00:11:47,419 –> 00:11:52,919 Christ has redeemed you from knowing yourself and knowing others healed of 118 00:11:53,059 –> 00:11:58,340 all that which is painful all tears wiped from your eye but knowing yourself to 119 00:11:58,340 –> 00:12:03,640 have a life that began in a certain place and continued for a certain time 120 00:12:03,640 –> 00:12:08,679 and now is in another place not in the body but with the Lord as you are 121 00:12:08,679 –> 00:12:16,359 immediately translated after death into the presence of Jesus so this is what 122 00:12:16,359 –> 00:12:21,659 we’re learning from second Corinthians in chapter five and here now is the 123 00:12:21,700 –> 00:12:29,340 heart of what I want to lay before you today the Christian then has one life in 124 00:12:29,340 –> 00:12:40,359 two parts and each part has both a challenge and an opportunity the 125 00:12:40,359 –> 00:12:49,359 Christian has one life lived in two parts and both parts have both an 126 00:12:49,900 –> 00:12:57,460 opportunity and a challenge now it is easy to see the challenge that we have 127 00:12:57,460 –> 00:13:01,219 now we thought about that last week life in the tent and all the rest of it 128 00:13:01,219 –> 00:13:06,000 we know the difficulties of that you’re living in the tent you’re walking by 129 00:13:06,000 –> 00:13:09,440 faith and not by sight we understand the challenge of the life that we have now 130 00:13:09,440 –> 00:13:15,219 and it’s very easy for us to understand the opportunity that we will have when 131 00:13:15,260 –> 00:13:19,659 we are with Christ I mean we will be with Christ you will see the king in his 132 00:13:19,659 –> 00:13:27,059 beauty faith will be turned into sight so what we’ve looked had in the first 133 00:13:27,059 –> 00:13:33,380 five verses of 2nd Corinthians in chapter 5 is the challenge of life now 134 00:13:33,380 –> 00:13:39,900 and the opportunity of life that is to come the challenge in the body and the 135 00:13:40,179 –> 00:13:47,460 opportunity with the Lord what I want us to see today from verses six to ten is 136 00:13:47,460 –> 00:13:52,979 that actually you can flip that on its head and I want us to look at the 137 00:13:52,979 –> 00:13:58,539 challenge that we will have then with the Lord and the opportunity that we 138 00:13:58,539 –> 00:14:06,299 have now while we are in the body and you might immediately see what possible 139 00:14:06,979 –> 00:14:13,840 challenge could there be when I am in the presence of the Lord and the answer 140 00:14:13,840 –> 00:14:17,020 to that of course is in verse 10 well you look at it with me there will be a 141 00:14:17,020 –> 00:14:20,679 challenge to face when you are at home with the Lord and here’s what it is 142 00:14:20,679 –> 00:14:30,099 verse 10 we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each one 143 00:14:31,099 –> 00:14:40,799 receive what is due for what he has done in the body whether good or evil 144 00:14:40,799 –> 00:14:44,599 now that’s not happening now while you’re in the body you are not before 145 00:14:44,599 –> 00:14:48,940 the judgment seat of Christ but what the Bible is telling us is that when you are 146 00:14:48,940 –> 00:14:54,039 in the presence of Christ that will be your experience then and we’re being 147 00:14:54,039 –> 00:14:58,320 told that because we have to prepare for it so there’s a challenge related to 148 00:14:58,400 –> 00:15:04,260 then and there is correspondingly an opportunity that relates to now precisely 149 00:15:04,260 –> 00:15:10,039 the mirror reverse of what we were looking at last week three things that a 150 00:15:10,039 –> 00:15:13,799 Christian needs to know about the judgment seat of Christ very simply 151 00:15:13,799 –> 00:15:22,440 number one you will not be condemned if you’re in Christ there is now no 152 00:15:22,440 –> 00:15:28,760 condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus Romans 8 one those who put 153 00:15:28,760 –> 00:15:35,520 their trust in him will never be put to shame Romans 10 verse 11 whoever 154 00:15:35,520 –> 00:15:41,599 believes in him shall not perish but will have everlasting life John chapter 155 00:15:41,599 –> 00:15:49,539 3 in verse 60 if you are in Christ you will stand before the Lord as his 156 00:15:49,580 –> 00:15:56,219 redeemed child no Christian believer no person in Christ will experience the 157 00:15:56,219 –> 00:16:02,539 wrath of God because Christ entered into Hell on the cross on your behalf so that 158 00:16:02,539 –> 00:16:09,840 you should never never never know what that is like your home and heaven we saw 159 00:16:09,840 –> 00:16:14,960 last week was not built with human hands and it certainly cannot be dismantled by 160 00:16:14,960 –> 00:16:21,359 the failure of human hands either a person in Christ cannot lose his or her 161 00:16:21,359 –> 00:16:27,440 salvation in the judgment seat of Christ by the way that’s an a man moment isn’t 162 00:16:27,440 –> 00:16:32,299 that something you’re thankful for i’m so so thankful for that my security in 163 00:16:32,299 –> 00:16:36,799 Jesus Christ number two second thing that every Christian needs to know about 164 00:16:36,799 –> 00:16:41,159 the judgment seat of Christ you will give an account you will not be 165 00:16:41,159 –> 00:16:47,799 condemned you will give an account the scripture speaks of this so many times 166 00:16:47,799 –> 00:16:53,900 Hebrews 413 how everything is uncovered before the eyes of him to whom we must 167 00:16:53,900 –> 00:17:00,200 give account Romans 14 inverse 12 each of us must give an account of himself to 168 00:17:00,200 –> 00:17:05,880 God Matthew 12 and verse 36 Jesus speaks of how we will give an account 169 00:17:05,880 –> 00:17:10,560 for every careless word that we have spoken and the Scripture itself we must 170 00:17:10,719 –> 00:17:15,359 all and he’s writing to Christian believers we must all brother sisters 171 00:17:15,359 –> 00:17:25,640 stand before the judgment seat of Christ you will give an account. In the college 172 00:17:25,640 –> 00:17:32,160 where both Karn and I studied and and trained the curriculum was made up of 173 00:17:32,500 –> 00:17:38,939 two elements. There were examinable courses that contributed towards the 174 00:17:38,939 –> 00:17:46,660 degree and then there were other courses that were mandatory for all students but 175 00:17:46,660 –> 00:17:52,939 they were not examinable and they did not contribute towards the degree well 176 00:17:52,939 –> 00:17:56,020 you can understand with a bunch of students every time there was a new 177 00:17:56,020 –> 00:18:00,099 course that started the discussion in the dining room was is this one of the 178 00:18:00,099 –> 00:18:05,260 examinable ones or is this one that doesn’t count towards the degree? And as 179 00:18:05,260 –> 00:18:12,359 you can imagine the professors who had to teach the non-examinable courses had 180 00:18:12,359 –> 00:18:17,640 a pretty rough time and the first thing obviously was that the attendance at 181 00:18:17,640 –> 00:18:21,920 these lek classes was considerably lower, the second thing was that the level of 182 00:18:21,920 –> 00:18:27,520 attention was definitely lower. This was before email, it was before tweeting and 183 00:18:27,560 –> 00:18:31,319 texting and all the rest of it but people were old fashion long hand 184 00:18:31,319 –> 00:18:34,640 writing letters to other people and pushing the notes around the place and 185 00:18:34,640 –> 00:18:39,760 all the rest of it. Well you get the picture and it’s not hard to put 186 00:18:39,760 –> 00:18:44,560 yourself in that situation. So let’s invent a student and we’ll call him John 187 00:18:44,560 –> 00:18:49,579 and there’s a new course that’s starting at the college and it’s on Monday 188 00:18:49,579 –> 00:18:55,619 morning at 7 o’clock and people are talking about this in the dining room 189 00:18:55,640 –> 00:19:00,060 What’s this with a new course? I mean Monday’s at 7 o’clock, I mean who needs 190 00:19:00,060 –> 00:19:05,099 that or someone in the group, you don’t need to worry about this, it’s one of 191 00:19:05,099 –> 00:19:10,979 these non-examinable courses. Just sign in to show that you’ve been there, that’s 192 00:19:10,979 –> 00:19:16,079 all you need to do, you can doze off sleep for the rest of the time. So that’s 193 00:19:16,079 –> 00:19:22,699 what John does. He goes in there for the first week and he starts taking notes 194 00:19:22,780 –> 00:19:26,800 but you know it’s seven o’clock on Monday morning and he’s a student and he 195 00:19:26,800 –> 00:19:31,280 writes a few things but it’s hard going and he begins to think after a while, why 196 00:19:31,280 –> 00:19:35,540 bother? I mean it doesn’t even count towards the degree. 197 00:19:35,540 –> 00:19:40,579 And then the next week, John shows up late because he slept in and the week 198 00:19:40,579 –> 00:19:44,439 after that he didn’t show up at all because he forgot to set his alarm. 199 00:19:44,439 –> 00:19:46,420 You’ve got the feeling of the story. 200 00:19:47,180 –> 00:19:54,260 The last day of the class, the teacher has an announcement. As you know, this 201 00:19:54,260 –> 00:20:03,459 course is not examinable and it does not count towards the degree. This does not 202 00:20:03,459 –> 00:20:09,160 mean however, he says that the course is unimportant. As a graduate, you will 203 00:20:09,160 –> 00:20:15,699 require a reference from this college and at the end of this session, he says I 204 00:20:15,699 –> 00:20:22,319 want each of you to submit the notes that you have taken throughout the last 205 00:20:22,319 –> 00:20:26,579 ten weeks of this class and they will be placed in your file as evidence of the 206 00:20:26,579 –> 00:20:32,359 character and commitment that you show to learning. And when future employers 207 00:20:32,359 –> 00:20:36,020 are asking for a reference from this college, we will write you a reference 208 00:20:36,020 –> 00:20:42,400 and we will append the notes that you have taken over these last weeks for 209 00:20:42,420 –> 00:20:47,839 them to see your character. And John looks through his file, half a 210 00:20:47,839 –> 00:20:54,640 measly page from session 1, one paragraph from the second half of 211 00:20:54,640 –> 00:21:02,119 session two, session three not a stroke off the pen because he slept in that 212 00:21:02,119 –> 00:21:09,959 entire day. And suddenly he realizes that the shoddy work he has done for ten 213 00:21:09,979 –> 00:21:15,979 weeks will be the first thing that is seen by his potential employer. 214 00:21:18,699 –> 00:21:23,619 He rushes to the tutor. This is not fair, he says, this is not fair. 215 00:21:23,619 –> 00:21:27,979 I was told quite clearly that this course does not count towards my degree, 216 00:21:27,979 –> 00:21:32,819 and if I knew that it mattered I would’ve done better work. 217 00:21:33,819 –> 00:21:39,619 You’re quite right, says the tutor. It does not count towards your degree. 218 00:21:39,619 –> 00:21:46,900 The mistake you made was that you thought it didn’t count for anything. 219 00:21:46,900 –> 00:21:53,459 And that’s a terrible mistake. And you see, 220 00:21:53,459 –> 00:21:56,859 there are many Christians who have made the same mistake as John. 221 00:21:57,140 –> 00:22:02,939 They have learned that entrance into heaven does not depend on our works, that is true. 222 00:22:02,939 –> 00:22:08,260 Salvation is the gift of God, it is by grace, it is through faith, 223 00:22:08,260 –> 00:22:13,260 it is in Jesus Christ. But it is a big mistake 224 00:22:13,260 –> 00:22:19,380 to assume from that, that your Christian life doesn’t count for anything. 225 00:22:20,060 –> 00:22:27,060 Brother, sister, says Paul, we must all stand before the judgement seat of Christ. 226 00:22:27,180 –> 00:22:32,699 We’re going to give an account, therefore we make it our aim to please Him. 227 00:22:32,699 –> 00:22:37,300 We’re going through the course of our life in this world with the knowledge 228 00:22:37,300 –> 00:22:39,660 that while we’re not trying to earn our way into heaven 229 00:22:39,660 –> 00:22:44,079 which we could never do, and Christ has purchased that for us, 230 00:22:44,119 –> 00:22:49,280 we are on a journey in which one day we are going to stand before the King of Kings, Himself, 231 00:22:49,280 –> 00:22:55,280 and He’s going to look me in the eye and I’m going to see Him in His beauty and in His glory. 232 00:22:56,380 –> 00:23:02,780 We must all stand before the judgement seat of Christ. 233 00:23:02,780 –> 00:23:06,099 And you need to know that when that happens, you will not be condemned. 234 00:23:06,099 –> 00:23:08,939 If you’re in Jesus Christ, that’s the wonderful truth. 235 00:23:09,020 –> 00:23:12,819 You also need to know that you will give an account, 236 00:23:12,819 –> 00:23:15,579 not as a means to salvation that is in Christ, 237 00:23:15,579 –> 00:23:19,699 but don’t get the idea that your Christian life doesn’t count for anything. 238 00:23:19,699 –> 00:23:21,839 That’s a terrible mistake. 239 00:23:22,800 –> 00:23:27,780 And that leads to the third thing that a Christian needs to know about the judgement seat of 240 00:23:27,780 –> 00:23:32,040 Christ and it is this, that you may be rewarded. 241 00:23:32,040 –> 00:23:33,800 You may be rewarded. 242 00:23:33,800 –> 00:23:34,959 You will not be condemned. 243 00:23:35,000 –> 00:23:39,699 You will give an account and you may be rewarded. 244 00:23:40,839 –> 00:23:46,780 The Lord Jesus speaks very very clearly about rewards for faithful service many times. 245 00:23:46,780 –> 00:23:52,800 Matthew 6 I’m thinking about, for example, where he speaks about praying and giving and 246 00:23:52,800 –> 00:23:59,119 fasting and after each of his teachings on these subjects, he says exactly the same thing. 247 00:23:59,119 –> 00:24:03,760 Your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 248 00:24:03,760 –> 00:24:06,020 Will reward you. 249 00:24:06,020 –> 00:24:07,219 Jesus said that. 250 00:24:08,160 –> 00:24:10,800 Then you remember he told the story of the talents. 251 00:24:10,800 –> 00:24:17,520 The parable of the talents in which a man trusts his property to his servants and to 252 00:24:17,520 –> 00:24:19,500 the servants who were faithful. 253 00:24:19,500 –> 00:24:22,979 The master, when he came back, said these wonderful wonderful words. 254 00:24:22,979 –> 00:24:25,560 You have been faithful over a little. 255 00:24:25,560 –> 00:24:29,479 I will trust you – or set you over – much. 256 00:24:30,300 –> 00:24:38,400 And from that there is an obvious correspondence, a direct line that is between the faithfulness 257 00:24:38,400 –> 00:24:43,180 of the servants with regards to what they have been given and the trust that is given 258 00:24:43,180 –> 00:24:46,219 to them when the master returns. 259 00:24:47,660 –> 00:24:52,099 And then think about the words of Jesus as we are thinking about this great theme when 260 00:24:52,099 –> 00:24:53,400 he says in Matthew 6, 261 00:24:53,739 –> 00:24:58,859 Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” 262 00:24:58,859 –> 00:25:00,439 Lay them up. 263 00:25:00,439 –> 00:25:06,260 Lay them up where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 264 00:25:06,260 –> 00:25:13,459 So here he is indicating to us that there are people who in some way are laying treasure 265 00:25:13,459 –> 00:25:20,180 up in heaven and when they arrive there they’re going to receive the benefit of what they 266 00:25:20,180 –> 00:25:23,260 have laid up there in advance. 267 00:25:24,119 –> 00:25:26,760 And then beyond the teaching of our Lord 268 00:25:26,760 –> 00:25:33,119 Jesus Christ God gives to us through the Apostle in First Corinthians in chapter 3 a 269 00:25:33,119 –> 00:25:43,439 vivid picture of this great day when believers will give an account and he 270 00:25:43,439 –> 00:25:49,640 uses this picture. Think of your life as if it were putting up a building and 271 00:25:50,319 –> 00:25:54,979 remember he says, this is first Corinthians 3 10, that Jesus Christ is 272 00:25:54,979 –> 00:26:01,920 the foundation. No other foundation can ever be laid apart from Jesus Christ. But 273 00:26:01,920 –> 00:26:05,140 speaking to Christian believers okay, you’re building your life on the rock 274 00:26:05,140 –> 00:26:08,760 that is Jesus Christ. Here’s what you need to know be very careful how you 275 00:26:08,760 –> 00:26:13,500 build because people build in different ways and they use different kinds of 276 00:26:13,500 –> 00:26:17,880 materials and particularly he talks about gold and silver and precious 277 00:26:17,880 –> 00:26:24,400 stones and wood and hay and stubble. So picture this, this house is going up and 278 00:26:24,400 –> 00:26:28,400 there’s gold pieces going in there and a silver piece is going in 279 00:26:28,400 –> 00:26:33,439 here in the decor and there are some precious stones that are being insert 280 00:26:33,439 –> 00:26:40,180 into the walls. But then there are some holes, there are some crevices, there are 281 00:26:40,180 –> 00:26:44,979 some gaps that are being stuffed with bits of wood and hay and stubble that 282 00:26:45,079 –> 00:26:50,500 didn’t matter that’ll get hidden and and then says Paul, one day there’s a fire 283 00:26:50,500 –> 00:26:58,680 that will come over the whole thing. And what was done in the shoddy way, the wood 284 00:26:58,680 –> 00:27:04,640 the hay and the stubble goes up in smoke but what was of enduring lasting value 285 00:27:04,640 –> 00:27:10,780 that which is gold and silver and precious stones remains. And he says in 286 00:27:10,780 –> 00:27:16,959 verse 13 of one Corinthians three, each one’s work will be manifest that what 287 00:27:16,959 –> 00:27:22,359 we’ve done our lives will be made known for the day will disclose it because it 288 00:27:22,359 –> 00:27:28,699 will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what sorts of work 289 00:27:28,699 –> 00:27:35,459 each one has done and if the work that anyone has built on the foundation 290 00:27:35,459 –> 00:27:43,560 survives–notice this–he will receive a reward. He will receive a reward. This is 291 00:27:43,560 –> 00:27:49,000 very clear but if anyone’s work is burned up, it was just all wood, hay and 292 00:27:49,000 –> 00:27:53,400 stubble, then he will suffer loss though he himself will be saved. We’re not 293 00:27:53,400 –> 00:27:57,540 talking here about a question of salvation we’re talking about what 294 00:27:57,540 –> 00:28:01,859 happens before the Judgment Seat of Christ –in relation to reward–he himself 295 00:28:01,880 –> 00:28:05,699 will be saved but only as through fire. In other words what he might have brought 296 00:28:05,699 –> 00:28:14,619 with him has been lost. Now I think actually that Paul may very well have 297 00:28:14,619 –> 00:28:20,959 had that picture and these words from 1 Corinthians chapter 3 in his mind 298 00:28:20,959 –> 00:28:24,640 when, by the Holy Spirit, he penned these words that we’re looking at today in 299 00:28:24,640 –> 00:28:29,020 2 Corinthians and chapter 5. As he says there, 300 00:28:32,040 –> 00:28:36,319 so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body 301 00:28:36,319 –> 00:28:43,239 whether good or…And then it says evil. The word that is translated evil in the 302 00:28:43,239 –> 00:28:53,540 ESV or bad in the NIV can also be translated worthless which is very 303 00:28:53,540 –> 00:29:01,520 interesting because like wood or like hay or like stubble it proved to be 304 00:29:01,839 –> 00:29:13,780 of no lasting value. So there is a challenge to face when we are at home 305 00:29:13,780 –> 00:29:24,300 with the Lord. We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. We’re not 306 00:29:24,300 –> 00:29:29,880 there now but that is the challenge that lies ahead 307 00:29:29,900 –> 00:29:40,380 of every Christian believer. We will be there then. Now, I said earlier that the 308 00:29:40,380 –> 00:29:48,420 Christian life is in two very unequal parts and I want you to know that this 309 00:29:48,420 –> 00:29:57,760 sermon is also in two very unequal parts and just so that you’re comforted the 310 00:29:57,800 –> 00:30:04,420 long part was what we’ve just done here’s the short part that flows from it. There 311 00:30:04,420 –> 00:30:10,880 is a challenge to face when we are at home with the Lord. There is an 312 00:30:10,880 –> 00:30:18,939 opportunity to grasp while we are at home here in the body. That’s what he 313 00:30:18,939 –> 00:30:23,619 says in verse 9, in the light of for the truth we’ve looked at in verse 10. We 314 00:30:23,780 –> 00:30:31,060 it whether we’re home or away we make it our aim to please him. Here is a 315 00:30:31,060 –> 00:30:37,180 Christian I have one life it’s in two parts but I have one purpose to bring 316 00:30:37,180 –> 00:30:41,400 joy to the heart of Jesus Christ when I’m with him that will be the great 317 00:30:41,400 –> 00:30:46,839 purpose of the Christians life to all eternity we will rejoice with him and be 318 00:30:46,839 –> 00:30:52,060 joy to him for ever more he will see the fruit of the suffering of his own soul 319 00:30:52,439 –> 00:30:57,359 and he’ll be satisfied he will rejoice in the accomplishing of all that he has 320 00:30:57,359 –> 00:31:03,619 done but as we will glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven what Paul is 321 00:31:03,619 –> 00:31:09,760 saying here is that the great purpose of my life in the tent which is the 322 00:31:09,760 –> 00:31:17,119 question with which we started is to get the glorifying and pleasing of Jesus 323 00:31:17,579 –> 00:31:27,099 Christ started now that is why a proper view of the Christians life in this 324 00:31:27,099 –> 00:31:37,739 world is so important right now right now you have opportunities to honor 325 00:31:37,739 –> 00:31:42,819 Jesus Christ and bring joy and pleasure to your Saviour and to your Lord that 326 00:31:43,040 –> 00:31:49,099 that are only possible during your life in this world that are only possible 327 00:31:49,099 –> 00:31:56,060 here and now that will not be possible for you in heaven let me give you ten 328 00:31:56,060 –> 00:32:03,180 you see 10 at this point in the sermon let you counter 10 all the praying you 329 00:32:03,180 –> 00:32:08,579 will ever do you will do while you are in the body you will not need to pray 330 00:32:08,739 –> 00:32:14,300 the presence of Jesus your communication will be direct all the believing you 331 00:32:14,300 –> 00:32:19,380 will ever do is the believing that you do while you are in the body you don’t 332 00:32:19,380 –> 00:32:25,560 need believing when faith is turned into sight all the courage you will ever show 333 00:32:25,560 –> 00:32:30,180 is the courage you show in this world because there are no dangers in the 334 00:32:30,180 –> 00:32:33,060 presence of Jesus the only time you can never honor 335 00:32:33,060 –> 00:32:38,459 him with courage is in facing up to danger and difficulty right now all the 336 00:32:38,459 –> 00:32:44,319 resisting of sin you will ever do in all of your life all it’s the battling with 337 00:32:44,319 –> 00:32:48,880 temptation that you’re engaged in right now that’s why it’s so important there’s 338 00:32:48,880 –> 00:32:54,319 no temptation and there’s certainly no sin in the presence of Jesus the only 339 00:32:54,319 –> 00:33:00,319 opportunities that you have to trust God in what you do not understand are the 340 00:33:00,319 –> 00:33:04,160 situations in which you just don’t understand what God is doing right now 341 00:33:04,880 –> 00:33:08,680 because there will be no situations when you’re in the presence of Jesus and 342 00:33:08,680 –> 00:33:14,439 faith will be turned to sight and all things will be made known. The only dark 343 00:33:14,439 –> 00:33:21,619 places where you can ever shine as elite ever in your life are the dark places 344 00:33:21,619 –> 00:33:27,540 where God puts you in this world there are no dark places in the presence of 345 00:33:27,540 –> 00:33:33,640 Jesus in heaven the only patients you can ever show is the patience you show 346 00:33:33,640 –> 00:33:38,079 while you’re in the body there will be no pressure on you with regards to 347 00:33:38,079 –> 00:33:44,260 patients in the presence of Jesus the only bearing witness to Jesus the only 348 00:33:44,260 –> 00:33:49,420 testifying to the glory of His name to someone who does not know it is what you 349 00:33:49,420 –> 00:33:54,239 do in this world there are no lost people in heaven and those who believe 350 00:33:54,239 –> 00:34:00,000 know Him and are enjoying Him immediately already. The only comfort 351 00:34:00,060 –> 00:34:04,939 that you can ever give in your entire life for all eternity the only comfort 352 00:34:04,939 –> 00:34:09,879 you can ever give to a suffering person is the comfort that you give to a 353 00:34:09,879 –> 00:34:15,280 suffering person here and now the only compassion that you can ever give to 354 00:34:15,280 –> 00:34:19,719 someone who is poor is the compassion that you give here in this world there 355 00:34:19,719 –> 00:34:25,280 is no suffering, there are no poor in the presence of Jesus in heaven. The only 356 00:34:25,320 –> 00:34:32,639 sacrifices you will ever make, the only giving you will ever do, the only labor 357 00:34:32,639 –> 00:34:41,439 in which you can ever extend yourself is what you do in this life because in the 358 00:34:41,439 –> 00:34:45,479 presence of Jesus, there are no sacrifices the Saints are resting from 359 00:34:45,479 –> 00:34:50,780 their labor’s the only opportunity for you to push outside of your comfort zone 360 00:34:50,780 –> 00:34:56,179 for the sake of Jesus bringing joy to his heart is the chance you will have to 361 00:34:56,179 –> 00:35:04,899 do that here and now. You see last week we started with there’s a challenge for 362 00:35:04,899 –> 00:35:09,820 us here and there’s a great opportunity for us there and this week we’re seeing 363 00:35:09,820 –> 00:35:17,699 that there’s a challenge for us there and oh there is a great opportunity for 364 00:35:17,939 –> 00:35:26,159 you and for me to live flat-out for Jesus Christ and to extend ourselves in 365 00:35:26,159 –> 00:35:34,179 what brings pleasure to him here and now. And so I began by saying I want to 366 00:35:34,179 –> 00:35:40,500 encourage you about the importance of the Christians life in this world. You 367 00:35:40,500 –> 00:35:45,239 see why Paul says that what we go through in our life in this world 368 00:35:45,439 –> 00:35:50,840 actually prepares for us an eternal weight of glory. So we make it our aim to 369 00:35:50,840 –> 00:35:58,659 please him. Seize the opporunity that you have to honor Jesus in the 370 00:35:58,659 –> 00:36:05,679 difficulties you are facing right now. Especially where your life is hard. It 371 00:36:05,679 –> 00:36:09,659 will not be hard in heaven. This is the only time you’re going to be able to 372 00:36:09,820 –> 00:36:16,139 honor him in a circumstance like this. And when you do, here’s what you’re doing. 373 00:36:16,139 –> 00:36:25,580 You’re laying gold and silver and precious stones into the building of 374 00:36:25,580 –> 00:36:36,340 your life. And friends that is something that you can only do here. Your life now 375 00:36:36,659 –> 00:36:49,280 at its hardest is laden with opportunity. And God tells you this, so that you will 376 00:36:49,280 –> 00:37:00,439 not lose heart. Let’s pray together. Father, we bless you for all that it 377 00:37:01,280 –> 00:37:09,719 Christ and we ask that you will help us to rightly understand and use all of the unique 378 00:37:09,719 –> 00:37:16,719 opportunities of our life in this world in anticipation of the great day when we shall 379 00:37:16,719 –> 00:37:28,840 stand in your presence, and your people will rejoice and enter into the full joy of their 380 00:37:28,919 –> 00:37:35,919 reward in Jesus Christ in whose name we pray together and everyone said amen. 381 00:37:40,639 –> 00:37:42,379 You’ve been listening to a sermon with Pastor 382 00:37:42,379 –> 00:37:49,379 Colin Smith of Open The Bible. To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN-365, or visit our 383 00:37:50,300 –> 00:37:52,899 website, OpenTheBible.org