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आरम्भिक बातें – 83
अन्तिम न्याय – 4
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The Elementary Principles – 83
Eternal Judgment – 4
In our study of “Eternal Judgment” the sixth elementary principle given in Hebrews 6:1-2, in the last article we have seen that God has already let us know, about 2000 years ago, that the Judge will be the Lord Jesus, and He will judge in righteousness, i.e., His judgement will be impartial and faultless. And that He will judge according to His Word, which is the only absolute and true standard. In short, for our help and benefit, God has told all of mankind much beforehand that His judgment is inevitable, He has already fixed a day for it, He has also told us who the Judge will be, and He has also made known to us the standard, the criteria that will be used for the judgment. God has sent His people all over the world to preach the gospel of salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus; i.e., God has let everyone know how to be saved from the wrath of God and be safe with Him in heaven, whenever the judgment happens. Thus, God has given everyone, all over the world, much more than adequate time, resources and the way to prepare and make themselves safe for this judgment. Today we will consider this further.
Because God has warned us about the judgment and given us the time and resources to prepare for it, therefore is a matter of common sense, that we should pay attention to all God has said and provided, and follow God and His Word, instead of following men, the ways of men, and men’s word – all of which will be cast away, perish, and will be of no use at the time of judgment. Common sense also tells us that we should prepare for this judgment by becoming the people of the Lord Jesus, instead of being the people of any particular sect or denomination. The Lord Jesus never gave any sects or denominations, nor did He ask His followers to create and follow them. All the sects and denominations, each and everyone, are man’s creation, not the Lord’s. Since the Church of the Lord Jesus is also called the Body of the Lord, the Bride of the Lord (Ephesians 5:25-30), therefore there simply cannot be more than one “Church,” i.e., more than one Body and Bride of the Lord Jesus. Throughout the New Testament this unity of the Church is taught and emphasized many times, yet men have divided up the Lord’s Church into their own sects and denominations. Each sect and denomination having their own rules and practices, and each claiming to be true to God’s Word, but still, each being different from the others – how ridiculous and false. No one will be judged by their denominational leaders and their rules and practices; but everyone will be judged by the Lord Jesus according to the Word of God. Therefore, it is absolutely imperative that while we have the time and opportunity, we should correct ourselves and obey God’s Word. We should become the learners and followers of God’s Word, become the people of the Lord Jesus, instead of taking pride in being the members or people of this, that or the other sect or denomination.
Moreover, as the Angel of God told Joseph, the Lord Jesus will save (not can save, or may be able to save, but will save – a definitive assurance), His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21); so why hesitate to become the Lord’s people? Secondly, when God has declared it, made it open, that the judgment will be according to his Word the Bible, we will be foolish if we do not study the Bible and learn from the Bible about how to please God and be righteous in His eyes. Why should anyone be so foolish to ignore God’s Word the Bible, not learn and obey God’s Word, by which he will be judged; but learn and obey the rules and practices of some sect or denomination, and practice them, when those rules and practices will have no role in deciding his eternal fate? When God has already told to us that the judgment will be according to His Word, then how can anyone blame God in the end for being condemned to hell, if they do not study and obey the Bible?
For those, who want to give the excuse that since they cannot understand the Bible, find it difficult, therefore they follow whatever their religious leaders say to them, since those leaders are trained, educated, and knowledgeable about the Bible and related matters. For all such people, God has already given the answer to their unacceptable and vain argument in His Word. The Bible clearly tells us that the moment a person repents of his sins and is Born-Again, God the Holy Spirit comes to reside in him (Ephesians 1:13-14). One of the functions of the Holy Spirit residing in every truly Born-Again Christian Believer is to teach him the Word of God, and guide him in it (John 14:26; 16:13), provided one is willing to learn from Him and be obedient to Him. Therefore, there is no need for anyone to plead inability to learn, or to depend upon any person to learn God’s Word, when God has already made the provision for directly teaching His Word to every person; for everyone who wants to learn it. So, at the time of the judgment, this excuse of not knowing or understanding the Bible will not work; God has made the necessary arrangements, but if someone is not willing to make use of those arrangements, then he is responsible for the consequences, not God.
Therefore, it is absolutely essential to learn and live by God’s Word, rather than man’s; do what God says instead of doing what any sect or denomination says. Those who do not take this seriously and do not start giving the primary place in their lives to God and His Word, and do not start placing God and His Word over and above man and man’s words, then at the time of judgment, they will suffer the consequences, and suffer very severely for eternity, for their own foolishness. We will carry on from here in the next article.
If you have not yet accepted the discipleship of the Lord, make your decision in favor of the Lord Jesus now to ensure your eternal life and heavenly blessings. Where there is obedience to the Lord, where there is respect and obedience to His Word, there is also the blessing and protection of the Lord. Repenting of your sins, and asking the Lord Jesus for forgiveness of your sins, voluntarily and sincerely, surrendering yourself to Him - is the only way to salvation and heavenly life. You only have to say a short but sincere prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ willingly and with a penitent heart, and at the same time completely commit and submit your life to Him. You can also make this prayer and submission in words something like, “Lord Jesus, I am sorry for my sins and repent of them. I thank you for taking my sins upon yourself, paying for them through your life. Because of them you died on the cross in my place, were buried, and you rose again from the grave on the third day for my salvation, and today you are the living Lord God and have freely provided to me the forgiveness, and redemption from my sins, through faith in you. Please forgive my sins, take me under your care, and make me your disciple. I submit my life into your hands." Your one prayer from a sincere and committed heart will make your present and future life, in this world and in the hereafter, heavenly and blessed for eternity.