Turn with me to the book of Romans
chapter 14. Romans 14. There was a reason why the Lord Jesus Christ died, rose, and revived. The Scripture says that he might
be Lord of the dead and the living. I am so thankful that he is God. That may sound Trivial to some,
but to a believer, they agree with that. I'm so glad He's God. I'm so glad I don't have to work my way, try to maintain. I hate it when
I don't. I hate it. I hate inconsistency
in me. I hate it. Job said, I loathe myself. You
that believe do too. You hate it. You hate it when
you don't trust him. You do. You hate it. I know you
do. But I'm telling you, he came to this world and he died. He was made flesh and a man for
a great group of people that God everlastingly loved. A man
as their federal head, as their representative. All of those
that God everlastingly loved. He looked at one man to answer
for them. One man. And whatever that man
did, God considered what he did. He obeyed God. God Almighty said
this of him, ìThis is my beloved son, and Iím well pleased with
him.î And what he did, God Almighty wrapped me in that. I'm glad he's God. Paul says in verse 10 of Romans
14, But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set
it not thy brother? But we shall all stand before
the judgment seat of Christ." I want to preach for a few minutes
this morning on this subject. Three questions about the final
judgment. Three things I want to ask. Paul said something. in verse 10, he picked up a thought
that he had been dealing with that started back in verse 1
of this chapter. Him that is weak in the faith,
receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. The issue is not whether or not
a man or a woman is confessing Christ, whether he is a believer
in Christ. The issue is not the gospel of
free grace. But the issue is that Paul's
dealing with is something that is irrelevant to the gospel. Don't make an issue out of it. That's what he's dealing with
right now. What difference does it make
whether or not a man eats certain things or
whether he observes a certain day, what difference does it
make? He's doing something according
to his conscience before God. If he's doing something, not
trying to earn or maintain a righteousness before God, but he's doing something
according to conscience that in his mind is obedient to God. Not trying to My son is going
to be my son no matter what. But if he does what he does out
of a good conscience toward me, he's not trying to become my
son. Paul said don't make an issue
of it. Why? Well, he said, Because we're
all going to stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Here's my first question. Question
number one. Who will be at the judgment? Who will be there? Well, Paul just set forth under
the inspiration of the Spirit of God, everybody. Everybody. We're all going to
be there. Everybody will stand. We shall
all stand before God. In that day, we will realize perfectly what's going on. Everybody will
know. Who will be there? Everybody. The Scripture says in verse 11,
As I live, saith the Lord. That is, I have sworn by myself. And God who could swear by no
greater As I live, as I have taken an
oath based upon my power and authority over all things, every
knee, every body, without exception, everybody, every human being that has ever
drawn breath in this world, is going to be at the judgment seat
of Christ. Every knee is going to bow. Boy, I'll tell you, right now,
by the grace of God, we can say, and there's been some that has
left this world that has bowed. In their heart, they've bowed.
Almighty God gave them a new heart. The Lord God of heaven imparted, put in them a right
spirit. And God Almighty gave them a
new heart and gave them faith to believe what God did for them. And they bow. And they realize that God Almighty
has done something that they couldn't do for themselves. Some have, but in that day, Everybody
will. Every knee is going to bow. Everybody is going to recognize
His authority. Can I say it like that? Some right now, they say, He's
God and He's worthy to be praised. Some say that with their mouth. But the Lord says with their
lips, they praise Me. But their heart is far from Me. Who praises God? Those that the
Lord has called out of darkness, as I said a minute ago. Those
that God has given an understanding of who they are. Who is going
to be there? Everybody. Every tongue is going
to confess to God. Every tongue is going to answer
the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God. Every tongue is going to
confess, You're right. You're right in what you've done.
Who's going to be there? Everybody's going to be there.
Here's my second question. Who's the judge? Well, the Scripture
says we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ,
the tribunal. It means the seat. That's what
it means. The seat upon which the judge
sits. In my little fickle mind, I see
a courtroom, and I can tell you this, though. The Scripture reveals
that it's going to be the judgment seat of Christ. Now, exactly
what will be there, I can tell you this, I know everybody's
going to be there. Everybody. And I know who's going
to be sitting on the judgment seat. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Who will be there? Everybody.
Who's the judge? He is. Here's the great day of reckoning. Boy, there's never been a day
that's going to be like this day. In that day, that's what
Paul just said, what's going to happen? Everybody's going
to bow. Everybody's going to bow. And everybody's going to
confess. What? That He's God, He's Lord,
He's the Boss. I like what you said. Who's running
this show anyway? God's running this show. Who's
in control of all this? God's in control of all this.
That's why I'm so glad. The Lord Jesus Christ, who is
the Judge, earned the right that was given
him to be the judge. Now, I want you to turn with
me to John 5, 26. Now, you stop and think about
this. As God, He doesn't receive anything. John 5, verse 26. As God, who
is He? He's God. But as a man, as a man, something
was given him who said that. He said that. John 5, verse 26,
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. As a man, now listen to me, as
a man, judgment was given Him. He said that. He earned the right
to judge all men. And all men are going to stand before Him
who pleased God, and everything is going to measure up to Him. What is the judgment going to
be about? How do you line up to Him? Now, that's the bottom line.
Let me make good on that. Isaiah 28. Isaiah chapter 28. Isaiah 28 verse 14. Wherefore, hear the word of the
Lord, ye scornful men that rule this people which is in Jerusalem,
because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and
with hell we are at agreement. I've told you this before, but
this is what they're saying. It's what he just said. As far
as this thing of hell and judgment, I'm all right on that. I've made
my mends with God. I read my Bible. You know, I
gave my heart to Jesus. I walked down the aisle. I'm
a Baptist. You know, I've been baptized.
You know, I'm settled on that thing. That thing of the eternity,
I'm OK with that. You scornful men, because you
said we've made a covenant with death and with hell, we're at
agreement when the overflowing scourge shall pass through. It
shall not come upon us, for we've made lies our refuge, and under
falsehood have we hid ourselves. Therefore, thus saith the Lord
God, behold, I lay in Zion a foundation, a stone, tried stone. precious corn of stone. Sure
foundation, he that believeth shall not make haste. Judgment
also will I lay to the line in righteousness to the plummet,
and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters
shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death
shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not
stand when the overflowing scourge shall pass through. Then you
shall be trodden down by it. What's he saying? Let me tell
you something. Who's going to be there? Everybody. Who's the
judge? The Lord Jesus Christ. The Son
of Man. He who was made flesh. The Son of Man. Who was made
in the likeness of sinful flesh. The Word that was made man. The One that absolutely obeyed
God. The plummet is going to be laid. That plumbob, you drop a heavy
weight, a plumbob. And let me tell you what it's
going to do. That's perfect. And everything is going to be
judged according to Him. And whatever doesn't measure
up perfectly. Sometimes I walk into a room,
a building, something and I'll look at a wall or I'll see maybe
a door casing right there. And if I stand, if I come over
here, Gary, I can tell whether or not that left side right there
is lined up with the right side. Looks pretty good. Looks pretty
good to me. But if it didn't line up, I can
tell it's just off a little bit, brother Scott. And you know what
I'm saying? Something's wrong. Something ain't square. Something's
not right. And once you see it, you always
see it. You always see that. What's going
to happen in the day of judgment? I'll tell you exactly what's
going to happen. Turn over to Revelation 20. What's going to
happen? I'll tell you. Here it is right
here. Revelation chapter 20. Revelation chapter 20, verse
11, John said, I saw a gray, white throne, and him that sat
on it, from whose face the earth and 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 the death and hell delivered up the
dead which were in them. 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. That means
the death that is other than what you and I know. We understand
this. First death. This is a second
death. This is different. And whosoever
was not found written in the book of life was cast into the
lake of fire. What's going to happen on the
day of judgment? Everybody's going to be there.
Who's going to rule? The Lord Jesus Christ. The one
who was given the right to judge. The one that earned the right
as a man And everybody is going to line up to the Son of Man. And all the books are going to
be there. All the confessions, all the professions, all the
excuses. Everything that men have ever
done. Thinking. I'm in agreement with hell. Death,
I settle that thing now. Let me go my merry way. I'm good.
When I die, me and the Lord, you know. The Lord said, when
I lay you to the plummet. Let me say it like that. When
I lay you to the plummet, let me tell you something. All that
doesn't line up with Him. And what's going to line up with
Him? What He did. His righteousness. That's the
only thing that will line up. Everybody, everything is going
to be judged in Him. Let me tell you something that's
going to be brought up on the Day of Judgment. I want to give
you a quote right now that's going to be heard on the Day
of Judgment. The Scripture has given us a
sentence that's going to be heard on the Day of Judgment. I want
you to turn to Matthew 25. You talk about something that's
remarkable. Almighty God, by His Spirit,
has given us Matthew 25 and verse 31. Matthew 25, some words that are
going to be heard on the Day of Judgment. When the Son of
Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with
Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory. And before
Him shall be gathered all nations, and He shall separate them one
from another, as a shepherd divided his sheep from the goats. And
He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on
the left. Then shall the King say unto them on the right hand..."
Now listen to these words right here. "...because they will be
brought up again, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world." Those words for all that are
found in Christ will echo throughout eternity to the praise and the
glory of His grace come. You blessed of my Father, God
the Father that chose a people in Christ from before the foundation
of the world, loved them, would not let them perish, remnant
according to grace. In time, they came into this
world born just like everybody else, conceived in sin, came
forth as liars, liars against themselves and liars against
God. But God, who is rich in mercy, who would not let them
perish under the sound of the gospel,
blessed that gospel, the power of God unto salvation to them
and gave them life, gave them faith, and they believed Him. And the Lord has told them something
that He will tell them on that day. And they'll know it in fullness. They'll know it in glorious power. And they will behold Him who
sits on that throne. And He'll look at them and He'll
say, Come, you blessed of My Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared
for you. from before the foundation of
the world. Oh, in that day, thankful, thankful. As John said in the
first message, praise our God. The Lord God omnipotent reigns. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Lord, thank you. Thank you for
saving my soul. Thank you, Lord. Thank you. Who will be there? Everybody.
Who's going to be sitting on that throne? The Lord Jesus Christ,
the Son of Man earned a right. The Son of Man sitting on that
throne. And He's going to judge everybody
out of the books. And the book will be opened,
the book of life. Everybody found in that book,
the Lord Jesus Christ is going to deal with them in that book.
one way in mercy, and everybody else, they'll be cast out. Back in Romans 14, verse 12,
and here's question number three. Question number one, who's going
to be there? Everybody. Question number two,
who's the judge? And question number three, on
that day, What will be the issue? What is going to be the great
issue in that day? Now, we're going to stand before
God. We're going to stand before the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son
of Man. Everybody. And what is going
to be the issue of the day? Here it is, verse 12. So then,
every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Now, you know, I would be willing
to say that there's nothing that would give the believer more
comfort than to know, what does that mean? What does that mean? How many
people are going to give account of themselves to God. How many? All right, hold on. I'll tell you. Every one of us. Every one of us. Knowing something of myself,
I would ask, Lord, shall I answer for anything that
has fallen short of Your glory? Lord, when I give account of
myself, what am I going to say? Psalm
130, verse 3, If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O
Lord, who shall stand? Lord, if You mark anything that
comes short of Your glory, who But I know this, everyone is
going to give account of himself. Everyone is going to have to
answer. That's what that word account
means. You're going to have to give an answer. You're going
to give an answer. Boy, you know, when you first
read that, I'll tell you what, if we've got any sense at all,
you know, we'd think, boy, please, whatever you do, don't end this
message. not telling me what that means.
Whatever you do, don't stop here. For the unbeliever, and I know
that there's going to be believers and unbelievers there. That's
only two groups that are going to be there. For the unbeliever,
he's going to try to justify himself by whatever means he
can. Lord, we prophesy in Your name. I tried to cast out devils in
your name. We've done many wonderful works
in your name. Lord, I went to church every
time I got a chance. I had a Bible. I gave to the community. I was
as good as my neighbor. I tried to be a good person. He's going to plead His own wicked
works of self-righteousness. And when He said all that He
could possibly say after that line, that plummet has been laid
there, and He's aligned with that plummet, and the Lord will
say, I never knew you. I never knew you in mercy. I
never knew you in compassion. I never knew you In any other
way except I've aligned you to the plummet and you've come up
short. You've been found wanting. You've
been weighed in a balance and it ain't there. It's not hard to conclude the
hopeless end of the rebel against God. The Lord said, in that day He
will bind him hand and foot and cast him into outer darkness.
That's just the way it is. Well, I know what's going to
happen when the unbeliever tries to give account of himself. But
what about the believer? We're all going to give account
of himself to God. What is the believer going to
say? He's going to say, Lord, I have
nothing but You. Lord, the only plea I have is
Your mercy. The only righteousness I have
is Your righteousness. Lord, I have nothing to say of
myself. This is my account. If you don't
show me mercy, I don't have any hope whatsoever." This is what he's going to say.
The four and twenty elders are going to cry and they're going
to say, Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood
out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. There's
not going to be any sins to answer for for the believer, for the
redeemed of God. They're going to give an account.
And they're going to say, Lord, I stand here today based totally
on Your mercy and compassion to me. I have nothing else to
answer for. Isaiah 38, 17, Behold, for peace
I had great bitterness, but Thou hast in love to my soul delivered
it from the pit of corruption, for Thou has cast off all my
sins behind Your back. Lord, this is all I've got to
say. Lord, I have nothing else to plea but the blood of Christ. Every man is going to give account
of himself. What's the believer going to
say? Psalm 103, verse 12, As far as the east is from the west,
so far hath He removed our transgressions from me. And when he lays us
to the plummet, robed in the righteousness of
the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that when I give account of myself,
the subject of my discourse, that's what it means, to give
account of yourself. The subject. What is the motive
of my heart? This is what the believer, the
sheep, will say. You're my hope. You're my life. You're my salvation. That's what
you just read, brother Scott. In Him I stand. In Him I trust. He's answered. Lord, You've answered.
You've answered for me from all eternity. And You've given me
a heart to trust You. And Lord, You said, that all
that the Father gave you should come to you. And all that comes
to you, Lord, You said, I will in no wise cast out. And Lord,
I stand here today trusting You, and I have nothing else to say. And He'll say, well done. Well done. Well done.