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AFTER THIS, THEN WHAT?
It’s in the Books

Romans 14:8-9
“If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.” (NIV)
1) The writer of Romans meant these words to bring comfort to the church—Christ’s very elect! Sadly, even today in the church body, there are some believers who will not find these words very comforting at all! Throughout history, mankind has viewed death with an ominous resignation. Even our Lord and Savior agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane, so much so that drops of blood fell to the ground (although, this has to be discerned in light of the fact that He was also about the bear the sins of the world and be, albeit briefly, separated from the Father!. The truth is, we need to come to terms with death! Unless the Lord Jesus comes soon, and our hearts already know this with a certainty, we are one day going to come face to face our greatest enemy—death! So, let’s look at what scripture tells us about death:
a) There are two types of death and both are the direct result of sin and rebellion against God (Genesis 2:16-17 and Romans 6:23!):
i) Physical—inevitable and unavoidable! (Hebrews 9:27) (There is a coming exception—1 Thessalonians 4:13-18!)
ii) Spiritual—a death that is chosen! (Matthew 10:28; John 5:24-29; John 8:51; John 11:25-26; Roman 6:3-5; Romans 6:23; Christ also refers to this spiritual death as the “second death” Revelation 2:10-11!)
b) Death is “now” defeated, and at the same time, death “will” be defeated!” (1 Corinthians 15:21-16; 54-55; 2 Timothy 1:8-10)
i) What does it mean to us as believers that death is “now” defeated?
ii) What will be the difference in death’s final defeat?
2) I think one of the reasons that so many of us do not find any comfort in “belonging to Christ” in death is fear (Hebrews 2:14-15!) What is it about death that frightens you?
a) Would you believe me if I told you that all creation is actually “groaning” in our spirits for the changes that will come when we are set free from this dying world and these perishing bodies? Well, read Romans 8:17-25 and 2 Corinthians 5:4-6!
i) What is God’s answer to any fear we may have about death (1 John 4:18!)
3) Oh, sisters, I love that trusting in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ has given us new hope! When we accept Him in simple faith, death is not the end—it’s the middle! Think about it—death actually becomes the point where eternity—infinity begins…! Death! Where is thy sting, indeed!
4) So, since we know we “belong to the Lord,” alive or dead—and that He is Lord over both the living and the dead—what kind of lives should we be living (2 Corinthians 5:7, 9?) 2 Timothy 4:1-6 gives us further admonishments:
a) We should be preaching God’s Word
b) We should be prepared in season and out of season to:
i) correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.
c) We should keep our heads in all situations
d) We should endure hardship(s)
e) We should do the work of an evangelist
f) We should be careful to discharge all the duties of our ministry
5) A paraphrase of verse 8 tells us that we are not “islands unto ourselves.” How can our outlook on living and on dying to the Lord impact our world? Negatively? Positively?
Romans 14:10-12
“You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: "`As surely as I live,' says the Lord, `every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.” (NIV)
1) Why is it far better to willingly bow before Christ now, than to wait and be forced to bend the knee when He returns in glory?
2) Well, unless you’re Billy Graham or Mother Theresa, I don’t think anyone is going to be too thrilled about giving an account to God Almighty! I know I’m not! Our thoughts, words, actions, hearts and motives will be laid bear—yes, for believers, too (Matthew 12:36; Romans 2:16; 1 Samuel 16:7; Matthew 9:4 and Hebrews 4:12!) Take heart, giving an account and being judged are two very, very different things—thank God! Your judgment, the penalty for all you have ever done that doesn’t measure up to God’s holy standard is already nailed to Jesus’ cross (Colossians 2:13-14!) I like what our education pastor, Glenn Reese, said in his sermon today—it was so freeing for me! “Love God with all your heart and do whatever you like! Now, I know some of you weren’t there, so don’t take this statement out of context! Huh! Huh! What he was referring to is that people (me, too!) are constantly trying to discover if they are “in” or “doing” God’s perfect will. Well, sisters, if you love God—He’s working in you and putting it on your heart to do His will (Philippians 2:13!) So, be free! Live, love, marry, work (as long as it does not directly contradict revealed scripture)—do it all as unto the Lord (1 Corinthians 10:31!) Leave the judging of your hearts and motives to the only Righteous Judge—Jesus Christ (John 5:30; 2 Timothy 4:7-8.) We don’t even know our own hearts and motives, anyway (Jeremiah 17:9-19; 1 John 3:20!) 1 Corinthians 4:3-5 tells us to not judge ourselves, but to wait for Lord, who alone can judge our hearts! Notice the very last part of this scripture—we will receive not judgment, but the praises we have earned for a life well-lived in Christ!
3) Now, about judging each other—not a good idea (Romans 8:33; Romans 14:4!)
a) Be sure! God will judge us as we judge others, and, as Jesus is quick to point out—our sins are usually far worse than those we are pointing our fingers at (Matthew 7:1-5; Romans 2:1, 3!)
i) We will not judge one another if we remember to always, always show mercy (Luke 6:36!)
4) How does the promise given in Psalms 103:11-14 give you comfort regarding our accounting to God?
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” (NIV)
1) This, dear sisters, is the Judgment Seat of Christ—for believers! Do not confused this judgment with that of the Great White Throne which is reserved for those who rejected Christ (Revelation 20:11-15! This is what we have been discussing! Our lives only truly begin when we have taken that step of faith to build the rest of our days on the only sound foundation available—Jesus Christ! At this seat, everything we do, say, think, imagine will be shown for what it really was—gold, silver, costly jewels, or wood, hay and stubble! Then, we will be given our reward! If we have done nothing, absolutely nothing for Jesus Christ—we still enter into the joy of the Lord (Ephesians 2:8-9!) This has to do with our position, our portion, our inheritance, our reward in Christ (Genesis 15:1; Psalms 73:26; Matthew 20;20-23: and Ephesians 1:18!) Some, (Billy Graham, Mother Theresa) will be so full of the joy of the Lord—and we will know it! Of course, there will be some of us, who just didn’t quite get it and yes, we will have our portion (and believe it or not, we, too, will be full), but we’ll know we could have had so much more! That is our loss! So, get busy—the Lord wants you to be blessed!
John 5:24-30
“"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. "Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out--those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” (NIV)
1) Everyone has probably heard this, but, oh, I believe it is so true—if Jesus hadn’t specifically called forth Lazarus by name, every grave would have burst open and all the righteous dead would have risen! Glory to God that will happen one great and glorious day! But, I don’t want us to think that until that day does happen, we are just lying in some deep dark grave, or scatter in some ocean, or at the bottom of some cliff. Yes, our bodies may well be—but not YOU! You are created in God’s own image with a body, soul, and mind (Genesis 1:26-27 and 2:7!) When this body dies, your soul goes immediately to Christ (Luke 23:40-43 and 2 Corinthians 5:8) to await the resurrected bodies of all His saints (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18!) So, what type of body will we have until the resurrection takes place? I truly do not know, but if you read Matthew 17:1-3, you will see that the disciples clearly understood that it was Moses and Elijah (both long departed from this world) who were speaking with the transfigured Lord. Oh, don’t miss this, ladies! This is what Jesus meant when He said, “God is not the God of the dead, but of the living!” In Christ, we have eternal life! Praise God!
2) Knowing what we do, how can we fear death and/or dread the righteous judgment of our loving and faithful Savior?
a) He loves us with an unfailing love (Psalms 13:5; Psalms 31:16!)
b) He left the throne of heaven to bring us to the Father (Hebrews 10:5-14!)
c) He bore our sin and shame (Isaiah 53:6!)
d) He is acquainted with our weaknesses because He Himself became flesh (Hebrews 2:17-18 and Hebrews 4:15-16!)
e) He died to give us life (Romans 5:8-9!)
f) He will return to take us home (John 14:1-3!)
g) He has given us a heavenly inheritance in Christ Jesus (Matthew 25:34!)
h) We will live and reign with Him forever (2 Timothy 2:11-12 and Revelation 5:10!)
3) Condemnation has no place in the life of a Christian (Romans 8:1-4!) Sister, if you are burdened, ridden with guilt over something you have already confessed to the Lord—you are listening to the father of lies; that ugly serpent, satan (Revelation 12:9-11!) God has given you your battle-ready armor (Ephesians 6:10-18!) Use it! Speak God’s truth (His Word) and satan has to flee from you (James 4:7)—if he comes back, keeping hitting him with the Sword of Truth—God says he has to flee! This is how Jesus battled satan during His temptation (Luke 4:1-13!) One other thought. The Holy Spirit will and does convict us of sin—that is, He will show you your sin, but He always points you to the one and only solution, Jesus Christ! 1 John 1:9 tells us that if we confess our sins, Jesus promises to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Believe Him! satan’s tactic is to always tell you his greatest lie, that there is no hope. Pray for discernment!
Revelation 20:11-15
“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. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (NIV)
1) Man was never meant for death, damnation or hell. Who was it created for (Matthew 25:41?)
2) The great white throne is God’s final judgment and is only for those who have refused and rejected Christ Jesus! The Book of Life condemns them, their names could have so easily been written there right along yours and mine—but, they would not! Therefore, their portion of eternal damnation is judged and based again on the good and evil they did during their lives on this earth. God will always be fair and just! He will not assign the same punishment to a “Hitler” that He would to someone who had no opportunity to even hear the Word of God (God’s creation condemns them—Psalms 19:1 and Romans 1:18-22!)
3) In Matthew 25:41-46, Jesus says the unrighteous are condemned because of what they didn’t do for “Him”—explain. Also, see Acts 9:1-5! Jesus closely relates to those He loves. If we hurt one of His, we hurt Him!
4) Earlier we were discussing our freedom in Christ to “do what we like.” Here in Matthew 25:41-46, Jesus sets a high standard for righteous and moral acts done in His name! Are we up to the task?
5) What does Revelation 20:14 say was thrown into the lake of fire? And, God will wipe away every tear from our eyes! Praise His Holy Name!