Welcome to Reign of Grace. This
program is brought to you by Reign of Grace Media Ministries,
an outreach ministry of Eager Avenue Grace Church in Albany,
Georgia. It is our pleasure and privilege
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for today's program. Welcome to our program today.
I'm glad you could join us for this Bible study as I preach
through the Word of God. And today I'm going to pick up
where I left off last week in the book of Ecclesiastes in the
Old Testament. Ecclesiastes chapter 12. And
I'm really going to major this morning on the last verse, verse
14 of Ecclesiastes 12. And the title of this message,
I'll leave it the same as I had last week, The Conclusion of
the Matter. This will be part two and the
final message on that. And so if you didn't hear last
week's message, I urge you to get the CD or listen to it on
the internet, on our website, where I dealt with in verse 13,
where the writer of Ecclesiastes, who most scholars believe it
was King Solomon, and I agree with that, but again, as I said
last week, God is the author. This is the word of God, and
that's why we need to look at it. This is not just Solomon's
opinion. or anybody, any other human's
opinion. This is God's Word. And He says,
let us, verse 13, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter.
fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of
man. Now I went over that verse pretty well last week, showing
how that fear God means to worship God, to revere God, to believe
God, as he reveals himself in the person and work of the Lord
Jesus Christ. And to keep his commandments
means to believe in Christ to repent of our dead works and
to follow Christ in obedience, motivated not by legal fear of
punishment or mercenary promise of earned reward, but motivated
by grace, by love, by gratitude. And that's what he's talking
about. The fear that Solomon was talking about in verse 13
is not a legal fear of punishment or some kind of a fear of loss
of reward. That's legalism. That's ungodly
fear. And it's not being afraid. It's
a reverence and a respect for God as He reveals Himself in
His Word. As He identifies and distinguishes
Himself in His Word. And He does that through the
person, the glorious person, and the finished work of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ. Who is
Jesus Christ? He is God in human flesh. He's
God-man. What did he do when he died on
the cross? He saved his people from their sins. He didn't try
to save anybody. He didn't simply make salvation
available. He actually saved his people. All for whom he died shall be
saved. Now, we don't know who they are
until after having getting out and preaching the gospel, God
brings them to faith in Christ. So you're commanded. to believe
in the Lord Jesus Christ. I've talked about the doctrine
of election. God has a chosen people. Am I
one of them? Well, it's not my business to
sit around and try to figure out if I'm one of God's elect.
The Bible says that God's elect are those who come to believe
Christ, to believe in Him, to trust Him. And that's what your
duty is. That's why He says, fear God
and keep His commandments, His commandment to believe, His commandment
to repent, His commandment to obey Christ, follow Christ, motivated
by grace, love, and gratitude. And this is the whole duty of
man. Now, why is that so important? Why is that so vital? Well, verse
14 tells us. It says, for God shall bring
every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it
be good or whether it be evil. Now he's talking about final
judgment there. He's talking about when at the
end of all things, Christ comes back again with his people and
raises his people from the dead and calls everyone to the final
judgment. And what is the standard of final
judgment? What is the issue of final judgment? That's what I'm gonna talk about
today. Why is it so important that we fear God? Keep his commandments. Why is that our whole day? Because
of final judgment. What is God going to do at the
final judgment? Well, He's gonna declare truth
to the whole universe. He's gonna declare the truth
about His people, His children, His church, all whom He chose
before the foundation of the world, all whom He, and He chose
them in Christ, all whom He has justified in His sight, based
on what? Not their works, but the righteousness
of Christ, all whom He redeemed by the blood of Christ, all whom
He regenerated, gave life and called into the fold the new
birth, all whom He preserved and brought to final judgment
to declare their salvation, their eternal life. And then For those
who don't have Christ, those who live their lives in unbelief
and die in unbelief, He's gonna declare before the universe that
they will perish. They are damned forever. That's
what final judgment does. It's a declarative thing. You're
not gonna go to final judgment and have it determined. No, it's
already been determined. But it will be declared at final
judgment. It's like the carrying out of
a sentence. But it says here in verse 14
that God will bring every work into judgment with every secret
thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. Now, a lot
of people have so many misconceptions of final judgments. You know,
when I was a boy growing up in religion, and it was false religion,
even though we called ourselves Christians. We used to distribute
this little pamphlet called, I can't remember what it was
called, but it was a pamphlet where it showed a young man who
grew up and went through this life and never came to faith
in Christ, and he ended up at Final Judgment. And at final
judgment, God put up a big, like a movie screen, and he showed
that man all of his evil deeds. And you know, there are a lot
of people who think that even believers, you know, that God's gonna show
all their good works and all their evil deeds, or God's gonna
look at the scales. He's gonna put your good works
on one side of the scales and your evil deeds on the other,
and which one weighs the most, that'll determine. That is myth. All of that is mythology. It's
religious sham. What does the Bible say about
final judgment? Well, as I said, first of all,
it's a declarative thing. He says, God's gonna bring every
work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good
or whether it be evil. Now, if you think that God is
going to judge you by your works, that verse ought to scare you
to death. Now, why is that? Well, he says,
whether it be good or whether it be evil. Well, what does the
Bible say about all of us by nature? Well, it says in Romans
chapter three, there are none righteous. No, not one. That's Romans three and verse
10. It goes on to say, there are none that seek after God.
It says there are none that do with good. No, not one. You remember in the book of Matthew
chapter 19, there was a young man who approached
the Lord and asking this question, what good thing must I do that
I may have eternal life? Now the man who approached Christ
did not believe that Jesus of Nazareth was God in human flesh. He just approached him as a rabbi,
a human teacher. Maybe he thought he was a great
teacher, like Nicodemus. In John 3, he looked upon Christ
as being a teacher sent from God. And this young man in Matthew
19 probably had that much respect for Jesus of Nazareth, but he
did not believe Jesus of Nazareth to be God in human flesh, to
be the Messiah sent from God. And so he asked him, what good
thing must I do that I may have eternal life? And Christ meeting
this man upon his own ground, he asked this question, he said,
why do you call me good? It's almost like he's saying,
if you don't believe I'm God, why do you call me good? Because
there's none good but God. Now, what is he teaching the
young man there? He's teaching that goodness is not to be found
among men, but it's only to be found among God. And here's what
you need to understand about that. He's speaking of goodness
as compared to God, as measured by God, not as measured on this
horizontal plane as we compare ourselves with other people.
You know, as you look around on the population, you find some
who are good people in the eyes of men, and you find others who
are not good people. They're evil in the eyes of men. And that's true. But when you
go to the vertical plane of God and how we compare to God, you
know, I like, you know, I want to be a good person. I want people
to think of me as a good person. But here's the point, here's
the reality, that when it comes to salvation, when it comes to
a right relationship with God, when it comes to how God sees
things, there's none good but God. Now, you say, well, I don't
believe that. Well, then don't ever quote Romans
3.23 again. Well, what's Romans 3.23? For
all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. And if you
don't believe that only God is good and there's none good among
us, then you don't need salvation by grace. In fact, you don't
even need salvation. Because if you're already good
as to a right relationship with God, you don't need salvation.
You see, I'm a sinner and I need salvation and I need it by the
grace of God through Jesus Christ. So when he talks about he's gonna
judge every secret thing, whether it be good or the secret things,
what is he talking about? That's our thoughts, our motives,
our attitudes. Somebody does a work that looks
good in the eyes of men. Well, what are they thinking?
What's their motive? What's their attitude? God sees
that. So given the fact that we are
all sinners and in need of a righteousness we cannot produce, how in the
world could we stand at judgment and anything about us be declared
good and not evil? Now what is the standard of judgment?
Well the Bible tells us all over the place but Let me just quote
Acts 17, 31 for you, where Paul's speaking to the Athenian philosophers
and religionists, and he says, God has commanded all men everywhere
to repent, verse 31, because God has appointed a day in the
which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man
whom he hath ordained in that He has given assurance unto all
men, in that He has raised Him from the dead." My friend, the
standard of judgment is Christ and His righteousness. Now again,
Romans 3 10 says, there's none righteous, no not one. I'm not
righteous in myself. I can't work my way to righteousness.
Well, how am I going to stand at the judgment and be declared
righteous? How am I going to measure up?
You say, well, you join the church, you get baptized. Will that do
it? The Bible says no. You remember those in Matthew
7, verse 21, 22, and 23? Christ said, not everyone that saith unto
me, Lord, Lord. shall be saved, stand at the
judgment. He said, many will say unto me, Lord, haven't we
preached in your name? Haven't we cast out demons? Haven't we done many wonderful
works? Only to hear him say, depart from me, ye that work
iniquity, I never knew you. Why was it iniquity? Because
what they were pleading at the judgment, for their salvation,
for their justification, for their right relationship with
God, did not equal out to the righteousness that God requires,
which righteousness can only be found in the person and work
of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now I wanna show you a couple
of passages about this judgment. And I want you to first go to
2 Corinthians chapter five. 2 Corinthians chapter five. And what Paul is talking about
in 2 Corinthians 5 is the finality of all things when believers
will be glorified. And they'll be changed, they'll
be glorified, they'll be resurrected from the dead. And he mentions
here that only those who pass the test of the judgment We'll
be glorified, and he begins in verse 10. Look at 2 Corinthians
5 and verse 10. He says, for we must all appear
before the judgment seat of Christ. Christ is the judge. Christ is
the standard of judgment. We must all appear before the
judgment seat of Christ that everyone may receive the things
done in his body according to that he hath done, whether it
be good or bad. Now there's the judgment. Now
you see why the wise man Solomon in Ecclesiastes 12 said this
is the conclusion of the matter? Well, here it is. Read it again. For we must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the
things done in his body according to that he hath done, whether
it be good or bad. Now, how in the world Can it
be said that anything I do in my body is good and not bad? That's the issue. Well, let me
just give you something to think about on this. This is not talking
about a judgment based on or by our works. Alright? Do you hear what I'm saying now?
This is not talking about judgment based on or by our works. This is talking about a judgment
of our works, whether they're good or bad. And how in the world
could it be said they're good? Well, look at verse 11. He says,
knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, We persuade men,
but we are made manifest unto God, and I trust also are made
manifest in your consciences. Now he's talking about the terror
of the Lord. Well, what is that? Well, look
at verse 12. He says, for we commend not ourselves
again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf,
that you may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance
and not in heart. Now, what is it to glory in appearance?
Well, that's to make an outward show. Glory in an outward show. Glory in your works. What is
it to glory in heart? Well, here's what it is. Look
at verse 13. For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God,
or whether we be sober or sober-minded, it is for your cause. Verse 14,
for the love of Christ constraineth us because we thus judge that
if one died for all, then we're all dead or all died. Now what he's teaching here is
this, that the only thing that matters at judgment is this,
do you, do I have a righteousness that answers the demands of God's
law and justice? Do I have a righteousness? And
the answer to that question is this. If I stand before God at
judgment in Christ, who died for my sins, and in whom I died
with him, if one died for all, then we're all dead. In other
words, all for whom Christ died, they died when he died. What
did they die into? They died unto sin. They died
unto the law. Their sins are taken away, washed
away by His blood. They have a righteousness that
answers the demands of God's law and justice. It's the imputed
righteousness of Christ. And if I stand before God in
Christ, I will be declared to be good. And my works, that is
the fruit of God's work in me, as washed in the blood of Christ,
will be declared righteous, but only because of the merit of
Christ's obedience unto death as my surety, as my substitute,
as my redeemer, as my intercessor. But if I stand before God without
Christ, it is all bad. all unrighteousness. And so back
there in verse 11 of 2 Corinthians 5 when Paul says, knowing therefore
the terror of the Lord, you know what the terror of the Lord is?
It's His wrath. And it's the terror that men
ought to have of standing before God at the judgment without Christ. You see, in order to be declared
righteous, in order to be declared good in God's sight, I have to
be washed in the blood of Christ. I have to be clothed in His righteousness. And that comes by His death for
me. And that's for believers. And those
who appear before God on their own, without Christ, all they
and their works will all be declared bad. Bad, evil. Let me show you another scripture
on that. Turn over to Revelation. Revelation chapter 20. Here in verse 12, he's talking
about the judgment. And in Revelation 20, the Apostle
John was inspired by the Spirit to write, in verse 12. Well,
let's look at verse 11. He said, 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."
This is Christ, the judge. And I saw the dead, small and
great, stand before God, and the books were opened. Now notice
that the word books there is plural. The books were opened. And who are the dead? Well, that's
talking about those who died in spiritual death. spiritually
dead, and the books were open. And then in verse 12 he says,
and another book was open, which is the book of life. Now that
book is singular, not plural. And this is the book of life,
and it says, and the dead were judged out of those things which
were written in the books, the plural, according to their works. Now what he's talking about the
dead there, are unbelievers. Those who die without Christ,
they're resurrected and appear at the judgment on their own. They don't have a Savior. They
don't have a Redeemer. They don't have a surety. They're
not washed in His blood. They're not clothed in His righteousness.
And their judgment comes out of the books, plural, which is
the charges of God against them for their sins. And it says they're
judged out of the books. The things which were written
in the books, plural, according to their works. And it says in
verse 13, 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. You see that? Standing before God at judgment
without Christ, without His blood, without His imputed righteousness.
That's what it's talking about. And it says in verse 14, and
death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the
second death. That's eternal death. That's
the second death. But look at verse 15. It says,
and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast
into the lake of fire. That's verse 15. So my only hope
is to have my name written in the Lamb's Book of Life. But
that's just one book, because you see, it declares the blood
and righteousness of only one person who represented, who was
surety, who was substitute and redeemer of a multitude which
no man can number. But they are saved, they are
justified, they are declared righteous, They have eternal
life and are glorified based upon the one work of the one
person, the Lord Jesus Christ. Think about it. Hebrews 10 and
verse 14. For by one offering, he, Christ, hath perfected, finished,
completed, fulfilled forever them that are sanctified. Read
that, think about that. By his one offering, Christ perfected
forever all who are sanctified, all whom God set apart before
the foundation of the world unto salvation. Now you might ask
the question, well, am I one of them? Well, believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. What did the wise man
in Ecclesiastes say? Verse 13 of chapter 12, let us
hear the conclusion of the whole matter, fear God. and keep His
commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Yes, God is
in control. Yes, God works all things after
the counsel of His own will. I don't understand everything
God does in Providence, and I can even say I don't necessarily
like everything God does in Providence, because I'm human. But I still
know that He's in control, He's sovereign. He works his purpose. He's not a cosmic chess player
who makes his move, and then you make your counter move, and
then he figures out another move. He does nothing in response to
us. He does everything according
to his own will. He works all things after the
counsel of his own will. He chose a people in Christ,
gave them to Christ. Christ died for them. They shall
be saved. Now, how might I react to that?
Fear God and keep His commandments. This is the whole duty of man.
That's the conclusion of the matter. You're right now hearing
the gospel preached. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, I'm going to tell you something. Unless the Holy Spirit gives
you a new heart, gives you eyes to see and ears to hear, gives
you life from above, you won't believe it. I know that. The
scripture says that. Christ said, except you be born
again, you cannot see or enter the kingdom of heaven. But your
responsibility is to believe and rest in Christ and follow
him for all salvation. That's the conclusion of the
whole matter. That's the whole duty of man.
That's the only way that sinners are going to stand at the judgment
and be declared righteous, not by their works, but by Christ
and His righteousness imputed, washed in His blood, clothed
in His righteousness. I hope you'll join us next week
for another message from God's Word. We are glad you could join us
for another edition of Reign of Grace. This program is brought
to you by Reign of Grace Media Ministries, an outreach ministry
of Eager Avenue Grace Church in Albany, Georgia. To receive
a copy of today's program or to learn more about Reign of
Grace Media Ministries or Eager Avenue Grace Church, write us
at 1-1-0-2 Eager Drive, Albany, Georgia. Contact us by phone at 229-432-6969
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today and may the Lord be with you.