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 that's what he says
here in 2 Corinthians 5, we must all appear before the judgment
seat of Christ, that everyone may receive the things done in
his body according to his works, according to that he hath done,
whether it be good or bad. There's a word in here that is
very significant. It says we must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ. I took the time to look that
word up, and in the Greek it means this.
The word means more than just being there. It means more than
just showing up. The word means to render apparent. To render apparent, clear. To manifestly declare and show
what really exists. We're going to appear, not just
in person, we are. But not just showing up, but
it's going to become apparent what we are, what we said, what
we've done, and what we thought. It's going to be clear. Apparent. And everyone, he says, everyone
shall appear, shall be made apparent at that time. Nothing secret
that shall not be revealed. Nothing spoken in secret will
not be shouted in the housetop. Everything clear and apparent.
before him in whose presence we stand, that everyone may receive
according." Now, God's judgments are just and holy and true. And everyone is going to be judged
justly, according to that which he hath done good or bad. You
say, have we done any good? Well, the Pharisee thought he
did. He said, Lord, I've tithed and given alms and People in
Matthew 7 thought they had. They said, we preached in your
name, did many wonderful works. There were children who thought
he had. He said, I kept all these from my youth up. Well, it's
going to all be apparent. And our thoughts, our works,
our deeds, our words, our actions will all be judged according
to the perfect will of God. Isaiah said, in Isaiah 28, judgment
will be laid to the lion, the perfect lion, and righteousness
to the plumbing. And holy and just and righteous
shall be his judgments. Everybody will get a fair shake. That's right, that's what he's
saying. According to their works, whether good or bad, they'll
be judged. A preacher knowing what we know
about ourselves and what God says about all men. Man in his
best state is altogether vanity. There's none that doeth good,
no not one. There's none righteous, no not one. Our righteousness
is, he said, of filthy rags. So does any son or daughter of
Adam have any hope? Those in Christ do. Those in
Christ do. Because when they are made apparent
and manifestly shown to be what they really are, it will be holy,
unblameable, unreprovable in his sight. You know what I'm
saying? Turn to Colossians. Colossians chapter 1. Now the
unsavory, unbelieving man or woman, when it's made apparent
what they are, they have no covering. They have no righteousness. They have no sanctification. And their deeds and words and
thoughts appear as they are, wicked. But you and I, listen
to this, in Colossians 1 verse 19. It pleased the Father that
in Christ should all fullness dwell. And having made peace
through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things
unto himself. By him I say whether they be
things in earth or things in heaven. And you, that were at
one time, there was a time I wouldn't want to stand there. There was
a time when I couldn't stand there. You either. You were at
one time alienated, enemies of God in your mind by wicked works. But now hath he reconciled in
the body of his flesh through death. to present you. You have
an advocate. If any man sin, we have an advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And he's going
to present you, present you, holy, unblameable, unreprovable
in his sight. Paul wrote in Romans 8.1, there
is no judgment to them who are in Christ. We'll be there. We'll
be apparent just like everybody else. But our righteousness is
a perfect righteousness. And our sanctification is a perfect
sanctification. And you're washed. And you're
clean. And there's no sin. He that's
in Christ has no sin. There's no judgment. Who can
lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who can condemn you? Not even
God himself. If you're in Christ, because
Christ died, was buried, rose again, and intercedes at God's
right hand. So if one is in Christ, he doesn't
fear the judgment. He doesn't fear being made apparent. He doesn't fear being manifestly
shown. He doesn't fear because with
his holy righteousness on, we're as holy as his son. That's right. There's going to be a judgment
all right. And we'll be there. And it'll be manifested what
we are. It'll be manifested what everybody is, really is. But
in Christ, we're really righteous, and holy, and perfect. All right, the next verse. Knowing
therefore, Paul said, the terror of the Lord. Hebrews 10 31 says
it's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God.
And the scriptures are clear on this from the flood, to Sodom,
Sodom and Gomorrah, to Egypt, to Jerusalem, after the crucified
Christ our Lord has dealt powerfully and justly with mankind. We know
the terror of the Lord. We know the terror of God. God
will punish sin, all sin. God will by no means clear the
guilty. But knowing the terror of the
Lord, what do we do? We persuade men. We persuade
them to seek Christ. To seek mercy in Christ. That's
the only place. The word says all the foundation
can no man lay but that which is laid, Christ Jesus. None other
name unto ever given among men whereby we must be saved, Christ
Jesus. I am the way, the truth, and
the light, no man cometh to the Father but by me, Christ Jesus. Turn to Romans 3, Romans chapter
3. Knowing the terror of a final
judgment, when men must be judged according to their works, justly,
righteously. Knowing the terror of the Lord,
we persuade men to flee to Christ. Look at Romans 3 verse 19. Now
we know that what things are under the law sayeth. It sayeth
to them who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped.
Every mouth stop. All the world become guilty.
guilty before God. By the law there shall no flesh
be justified in his sight. Not by the law. By Christ, yes. By his blood, yes. By his righteousness,
yes, but not by the law. Not by religion, not by works,
no, not in his sight. Oh, we try to justify ourselves
in the sight of others, but not God. We are apparent to him. That word's a pretty good word,
a paraphrase. Clear as glass, like looking
through a window glass. For by the law is the knowledge
of sin. But now, if you're interested, the righteousness of God without
the law is manifested. Being witness for the law and
the prophets, it's even, not your righteousness, but the righteousness
of God, which is by the faithfulness of Jesus Christ, by the obedience
of Jesus Christ, by the blood of Jesus Christ, and who is it
for? All, unto all, and upon all,
all that believe. There's no difference. God makes
no difference. All who believe are justified
freely. Verse 24, being justified freely
by His grace through the redemption that's in Christ Jesus. So, knowing
the terror, knowing the terror of that awful judgment, we persuade
men, be ye reconciled to God, lay down your shotgun, be done
with your pride, turn from your idols, Your traditions, your
religion, your works, return to Christ. In Christ, we're accepted. Out of Christ, we're rejected. We persuade men. Alright, read
verse 11. Now look at this next line. But
will they manifest to God? What's he saying? He's saying
this. God's my witness. I'm telling you the truth. God,
I manifest to God right now. What I'm standing here preaching
and saying, God is my witness. That's a powerful thing to think
about. Paul said, I am made manifest
to God. God knows my motive. God knows
my goal. God knows my intention. God knows these things that I
desire in your good and your well-being and His glory. And
He knows that. Paul says that often, God is
my witness. I'm going to show you that in
1 Thessalonians 2. 1 Thessalonians 2. I tell you, a man who says that
better be careful that he's got a good witness, or a good testimony,
or a good gospel. If he wants God to bear witness
to what he's saying, God is my witness. That's what Paul said.
Look at 1 Thessalonians 2. in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2
verse 4. But as we were allowed of God
to be put in trust with the gospel, God trusted me with the gospel.
Even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tries our hearts. For neither at any time did we
use flattering words, as you know, nor cloak of covetousness,
God is my witness. Now if men did we seek glory,
not of you or your relatives, that we might become burdensome
as the apostles of Christ. Paul calls on God to be a witness.
When I persuade men to flee to Christ, God is my witness. I'm telling you the truth. And
he says I hope, look at this next line in verse 11, I trust
also That you know that. God knows it. I trust you know
it. I trust that we're not only manifest
to God, but manifest in your consciences. Manifest in your conscience.
That's very important. We're all going to stand before
God as apparent as clear glass. And it's not going to be a pretty
thing either, unless you're in Christ. And that's a beautiful
thing. if you're in Christ. Holy is
God. Holy is Christ. Innerly blessed. And he said, knowing that terror,
I persuade men, flee to Christ. Look to Christ. Seek the Lord. And God knows I'm telling you
the truth. He's my witness. And I hope you know what he said.
Verse 12, listen. I'm not commending myself. We
commend not ourselves again unto you, That's not what I'm doing. But listen, here's what I'm doing.
I'm telling you these things plainly and clearly that you
may give God the glory for the revelation that he's given you
and me. That's what he says. I'm not commending myself to
you, but I give you occasion to glory on our behalf, to glory
before God that we've been taught the truth. You said that in your
prayer. We've been taught the truth.
We know the truth. Give God the glory. Praise his name. He could have passed us by. He
could have left us where we were. Such were some of you, but you're
washed. We're not bagging on ourselves,
we're bagging on God. Bagging on his mercy and his
grace. We're giving him the glory. I'll
tell you another reason why I'm doing this, he said. I'll tell
you another reason. That you might glory on our behalf
and on your behalf before God. And that you may have something,
somewhat, to answer them, these false preachers and false teachers
that glory in appearance, but not in heart. You know that.
You know what they are, these false preachers and false teachers
who know nothing of the grace of God, nothing of the gospel
of Christ, nothing of heart faith. They glory in outward appearance.
They glory in your flesh. They make merchandise of you.
counting numbers and counting heads and having contests and
activities and all these things to give an appearance of success. Things are happening around here. Things are happening around here
when men's hearts are broken over sin and fall before God
in repentance and call on Christ for mercy and walk in faith and
honesty and godliness. Things are happening. That's
heart work. But he said, I'm telling you these things that you might give God the glory
that he blessed you with the gospel, taught you the truth,
turned you to Christ, didn't leave you alone, and that you
might have something to answer these people that you work with,
and that you encounter day by day who know nothing about a
heart relationship with God, but all they know is a tradition,
a religion, of free willism. What we did. What we gave. What we accomplished. We're doing great things for
God. That's a poor testimony. I'll tell you a good testimony.
God's done great things for us. It's a lot different. We're doing
great things for God. Did we preach in your name God?
Did we cast out demons? Did we do many wonderful works?
I never knew you. Let's hear you talk about what
he's done for you, in us, for us, because of Christ. All right, verse 13, listen to
this. Now whether we be beside ourselves,
whether we be beside ourselves, it's to God. Whether we be sober
or calm, it's for your cause. This is interesting. If you are
turning to the book of Acts the book of Acts chapter 26 Acts
26 this is interesting Acts 26 Paul was before two Roman rulers
he was before King Agrippa and before old powerful Festus and
he was telling what Christ had done for him How the Lord found
him on the road to ruin, the road to Damascus. And how God
broke his heart, brought him down, stripped him, revealed
Christ to him, saved his soul. And how that he saves all who
come his way. And this fellow spoke up, verse
24. And as he thus spake for himself,
Thestas said with a loud voice, You're beside yourself. You're
a madman. What's learning that made you
mad? That's where it came from. And
Paul said, I'm not mad. Most noble Festus, I'm speaking
the words of truth and soberness. By the King, King Agrippa, he
knows of these things before whom also I speak further. I'm
persuaded that he knows these things because none of these
things were hidden from him. They weren't done in a corner.
God doesn't operate in a corner. His son was crucified on a hill
before the gaze of thousands of people. Paul said, I'm not
mad. But over in our text, listen. If I am mad, he said. He had
a lot of enemies. I tell you, because of Paul's
zeal for the gospel, because of Paul's unwillingness to compromise,
because of Paul's willingness to die for his gospel, people
called him a fanatic. They called him a madman. One
bunch called him a babbler. You remember, they said, what's
this babbler gonna say? Well, he said, that's all right,
listen. If I am beside myself, it's to God. Isn't that beautiful? If I am beside myself, if I am
a thematic, if I am radical, if I am sober, if I am calm,
if I am resolved, I'm reserved. It's the two roots. It's to God
and for your sake. Oh, you can't beat that. And
nobody ever, ever totally committed to the glory of God and the good
of his congregation that God didn't bless them. If they're not being blessed,
wait a while and see what they're doing, what they're doing. That's
right. Paul expected a blessing. Because
he was committed, sold out 100% to the glory of God and the truth
of the scripture and the good of his hearers. Here's his motive,
listen, he said that's my reason. Here's my motive, verse 14. The
love of Christ, the love of Christ constrains me. The love of Christ
motivates me. The love of Christ impairs me. The love of Christ comforts me. The love of Christ motivates
me. One writer paraphrased it this
way. The love of Christ controls us,
urges us, impairs us to serve him, to glorify him, because
we know he died for us. And if he died for us, then we
were all helplessly dead. And he died for us that all who
lived by his death should live no longer to themselves, but
to him and for him who died for them. That's what he says here. For the love of Christ constrains
us because we thus judge that if one died for all, then we're
all dead. And they died for all that they
which live should not henceforth live any more to themselves but
unto him who died for them and rose again." Poor Christians. If the Son of God died for us,
we must have been in a most wretched and terrible state. If it took
the Son of God's death to deliver us, we must have been in awful
condemnation. Secondly, if the Son of God died
for us, if he had to leave heaven's glory and come to this earth
to redeem us, there must not be any other way for God to redeem
us. Must not be. Must not be any other way. Thirdly,
if He died for us, if He did die for us sinners, then I know
the Father willed it. The Father willed it. The Father
was behind it. He was the moving cause of it. Because all things have God.
Especially this. God was the moving cause. And
Christ agreed to it. They were in company, warmness
of purpose, in this sacrifice. And fourthly, if he died for
us, and he's risen again, and exalted to his former place
in glory, then the Father must have accepted what he did for
us. That means he accepted us too. So I'm not worried about judgment.
I'm not worried about judgment. Because my sins are paid for. Verse 16. Wherefore, henceforth,
know we no man after the flesh. We know no man
after the flesh. What's Paul saying? So anyone
coming around with any other gospel. Anyone coming around
talking about man's works, his works, his deeds, his goodness. We approve of no man. We regard
no man after the flesh. There's none righteous, no not
one. There's no good. There's none that seeketh after
God. They're all gone out of the way. Now he said, I did know
one man that was perfect. I give you one man who has a
claim on God. We have known Christ after the
flesh. But henceforth that way we know
him no more. Oh yes, there was one man. He
came down from heaven. The second Adam. The Lord from
heaven. Became flesh. Made of a woman. Made under the law. Tested, tried in all parts as
we are. Without sin. He could say, Father,
I know you always hear me. I always do those things that
please my Father. This is my beloved son in whom
I'm well pleased. But Paul said, I knew him. He
was a man, but he's gone to glory. But there's nobody else left.
I'm not impressed, he said. Don't even talk to me, he said.
I'm not impressed with no man, no woman. Not looking for their
advice. I know whom I have believed.
I'm persuaded he is able to keep that which I've committed to
him. I'm as certain of it as God's in heaven. Can't be any
other way. There's going to be a judgment.
A transparent judgment. A transparent judgment. When
everything is brought by the sovereign God to be looked over. I want a mediator. I want a righteousness. And I'm
not interested in any righteousness anybody wants to tell me about,
but one, that's His. That's His. I know it's perfect. Therefore, what's this now? If
any man be in Christ, here's the way we have no judgment,
here's the reason we have no condemnation. Here's the reason
nobody can charge us. We're in Christ. And being in
Christ, we're a new creature. A new creature. Just as God made
the first creation out of nothing, He made us a new creature out
of nothing. He didn't take anything we had.
He didn't take any contribution we made. We were born from above. Born of God. Born of the Spirit,
born of the Word, and this new man, this new nature, these new
principles are all of God and all of grace. All things become
new. Any man made in Christ, new Christian,
new creation. For by grace are you saved through
faith. That's not of yourself, it's
the gift of God. Faith is the gift of God. Repentance is the
gift of God. The goodness of God led us to
repentance. None of the experts in the mansion
base were his workmanship created. Created. God said let there be
light and there was light. And that's how he started with
us, let there be light. And then he gave us new faith,
of which Christ is the author. He gave us new righteousness.
His, not ours. He gave us a new way of worship.
Spirit and truth. Not form and ceremony. He gave
us a new walk, walk in the spirit. He gave us a new talk, season
with grace. He gave us new companions. I
was glad when they said to me, let's go to the house of the
Lord. They. This is the they out here. They
said to me, let's go to the house of the Lord. That's my new companions.
It's the house of the Lord goers. That's my new companion. He gave
me a new motive for doing what I do, for Christ's sake. Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, as God for Christ's sake forgave you. All things are of God. Look at
this. Verse 18. And all these things
are of God, who hath reconciled us. He's
made the enemies his friends. God's not angry. Now the Bible
says God's angry with the wicked. He's angry with the wicked. The
Bible says God hates the workers of iniquity. That's true. And you and I one time were under
the wrath of God. Even as others. But God who is
rich in mercy for his great love, wherewith he loved us, quickened us with Christ Jesus.
And we've been reconciled. God's reconciled to us. We're
not enemies anymore. We're friends. We're friends. All things in God who reconciled
us to himself by Jesus Christ. God didn't become reconciled
when you accepted him as your personal Savior. He became reconciled
when Christ took your place. And took your sins. And died
for you on the cross. That's when God was reconciled. Reconciled us to himself by Jesus
Christ. How don't you see that over here
in Colossians? Let's turn over there a minute.
In Colossians, read that again, that I read a while ago. Colossians 1.19, it pleased the
Father that in Christ should all fullness dwell. And he made
peace, how? Through the blood of the cross.
And by him, by Christ, to reconcile all things to himself, by him
I say, whether they be folks already in heaven, Moses, Abraham,
Isaiah, David, or things on the earth. But when Christ died,
God reconciled all his people to him. Totally reconciled. Now then, watch this. And he gave us a ministry of
reconciliation. He gave us a message of reconciliation. He gave us a gospel of reconciliation. He said, you go into all the
world, preach the gospel. If a man believes it, he'll be
saved. If he believes it, he'll be saved. If he doesn't believe
it, he'll be damned. That's the ministry of reconciliation. That's
the gospel of reconciliation. And here there is verse 19. Verse
18 says, All things have God, who hath reconciled us to himself
by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation,
to wit, that word to wit means, that is to say, or namely, it
is, God was in Christ. I wish all of you had been sitting
by me last night and heard this. The arch looked at me and she
said, I didn't think I could be shocked
again, a preacher said on television, Jesus Christ came as close to
being like God as any man in the flesh has ever come close. Let me tell you something, say it clear and blank, Jesus
Christ is God Almighty. Jesus Christ is God. He created
this world. It's created by Him, for Him,
He holds it together. He's the only manifestation of
God you're ever going to see. It's Jesus Christ. That's right. He would have seen this, seen
God. He's exact image. He's exact likeness. He's the
brightness of the Father's glory. Jesus Christ is God. God Almighty
was in Jesus Christ. God walked on this earth in human
flesh. And God died on that cross in
human flesh. And I can't explain that. I just
know it's so. I know it's so. You see, Christ
couldn't save us if he's only a man. because a man can't satisfy
God's perfect love a man can't satisfy God's perfect justice
a man can suffer that he can't satisfy but God can satisfy that
he can't suffer so God became a man and as the God man he can
satisfy perfectly honor perfectly God's love and God's justice
and yet suffer. That's right. As a man. God was
in Christ, reconciling the world. Not everybody, but every tribe,
kindred, nation, tongue under heaven. A world of people. People
of all nations, and kindreds, and tribes, and tongues. Not
just Jews. Not just Americans. Not just
Baptists. Well, Reconciling the world unto
himself, not imputing, what's that? Not charging their sins.
Our sins aren't charged to us, they were charged to him. Impute means to reckon, to charge. And he didn't charge our sins.
Blessed is the man to whom God will not impute sin. Blessed
is the man or woman who one day will walk into that judgment.
When all things are revealed like they are. and he can rejoice,
I'm pure in the blood of Christ. Perfectly holy in God's sight.
Oh, I don't have a single sin, not one, not imputing their trespasses
unto them. And God hath committed unto us
this word of reconciliation, this promise, this gospel. Now
then, listen to me, Paul said. I'm an ambassador for Jesus Christ. I'm here in his name. I'm here
because he sent me. I'm here because he committed
this gospel to my trust. I'm here because he taught me
the gospel. And I'm here speaking for him.
I'm an ambassador of Jesus Christ. And it is as if God himself was
speaking to you, as though God himself did beseech you. By us,
we pray you, in Christ's stead, lay down your shotguns. Swallow your pride. Forget your
religious experiences and traditions and baptisms and all these things. And come empty handed to the
Son of God and say, Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner. and
save me by your grace that's what you'll be reconciled and
God's reconciled he's reconciled to me before I became reconciled
to him before you did too that's right yeah he was reconciled
to us when Christ died you don't do anything about that you don't
come down now and shake the preacher's hand and God say smile watch
your name in the last book of life oh no that's not the way
it's already there if you want to hear this He's already reconciled
and you'd have been in hell a long time ago. God's already reconciled. Now you be reconciled. And you
will be. My people shall be willing in the day of our power. They'll
be willing. You lay it down. You'll just
be tickled to death. You'll be just tickled to death.
You'll come running to Christ, you'll come willingly, you'll
come lovingly, you'll come permanently, you'll come and not even look
back. That's what lost wife couldn't do, she couldn't keep from looking
back. But you'll come to Him. In my hands no price I bring,
simply the cross of Christ I claim. Preacher why are you, why are
you so dogmatic on this? Next verse tells you why. For
He, God, hath made Him Christ to be sin for us people. He knew no sin. In order that
we might be made in Christ the righteousness of God. That's
why I know my gospel is the gospel. That's why I take a back seat
to no living human being when it comes to preaching the gospel.
This is the gospel. I'm not open for any correction.
I'm not open for any constructive criticism. This is the gospel. That's what's powerful about
it. He said if you preach any other gospel than that, you'll
be cursed. That's what's powerful isn't
it? I feel the same way. If any man, I don't care if it's
an angel from heaven, you say, well he talks so sweet, doesn't
matter, but he's so smart, I know, but he's got a PhD and you don't,
that's alright. And I know if a man preaches
any other gospel, let him be accursed. For this is the saving
gospel. This is all of grace, all of
God. Whoever may refer to me, I'm
thankful. Made it through. That close I'll
make it.