048: Darren Tappouras - Least and Greatest in the Kingdom

Automatically transcribed. Accuracy is good but not perfect, and words are sometimes wrong. Trust the audio over the text.

1. 0:13

   Welcome to the good Christian talks podcast. I’m Levi and I’m Chris. Thank you so much for joining us this week on this podcast. We select one taco week to help each one of us get the Bible in our daily news feed. We post at the start of each week for you to listen.

2. 0:30

   With a short intro before hand to kind of set the stage for the talk. You’re about to hear and now let’s hear more about this week’s talk. This class comes from a series called looking forward to the Judgment seat by Brother Darren tabris. He presented it at in 2013 at the Busselton Bible School in Australia. I found this whole series incredibly compelling really really enjoyed the whole series and Chris and I talked about that.

3. 0:55

   It’s a fun. It’s a fun problem when you have a trouble picking one class from the Is this is definite one will put on the extended podcast to include the whole series. It’s just a practical study on what the Judgment seat will be actually like and I think there’s an overall theme isn’t kind of mentioned it but every class he doesn’t say this specifically but every class he Compares multiple ideas about the same thing and you’ll see that in this class the idea of the This is class 3 from the series the least and greatest in the kingdom and kind of examining the idea of variable rewards and how do we understand that how do we understand that there’s some verses that say we’ll all be in the Kingdom will be equal but then there’s Parables and other verses that talk about the variable reward that will be given to us.

4. 1:51

   So again, this was just a great study because he does the same thing with like the speed of the That’s kind of the first and second class comparing the ideas in the in the Bible that we have about the Judgment seat. Where is it an instantaneous thing or is it a long drawn-out process at the Judgment?

5. 2:17

   Because there’s versus that Stack Up on both sides of that and then also looks at the book the concept of The Book of Life. Are you permanently written in the Book of Life or is The Book of Life something you can be taken out of so and And yeah, he makes a point in the first class, which said there is no clear. Like we don’t have a judgment chapter like we do, you know faith in Hebrews 11 or the resurrection and foreskin is 15. We don’t have you know, love we don’t have a classic judgment chapter.

6. 2:48

   You have to kind of pull together different ideas from different parts of the Bible and that makes for an interesting study and it makes for really a variance of opinions on what this is going to be like I would definitely suggest If you if you want to listen to another one left to listen to the first class, that was my other other option in my head for posting this but because that’s where he examines that two different concepts of the Judgment seat. So anyways, this was a really really compelling really interesting series.

7. 3:17

   He is very easy to listen to brother Tetris and I hope you enjoy this one. This is the least and the greatest in the Kingdom. Thanks for the rush. Well and good morning. Once again, everybody excellent. My voice is a little bit croaky. So try and conserve as much as I can and not yell at you too much as we go through all that study.

8. 3:45

   This morning is called works and rewards and it’s a suppose we’re building on some of the concepts we laid yesterday. So we’ll continue on with this consideration of how these things all play out at the Judgment seat. Just a couple of spies initial Concepts and some of the ideas are going to set the scene for our investigation this morning all our lives. I suppose we’ve grown up.

9. 4:09

   It’s been drummed into us that we are saved by grace. We are saved through faith, and we’ve told over and over again that salvation is a gift and we’re not saved by works. We can earn our Salvation. We can’t impress god with our works to sort of gets a little Nation by that in that method we can’t do Works to sort of earn brownie points or to build up the balance sheet on one side of The Ledger or the other and we know we know these things we’ve been we’ve had these things taught to us in school kids in some regard and yet and yet also we’ve come across many many references in scripture and it’s been references throughout our life as well that our works are balled up at the Judgment see in the works of sort of front and center at the Judgment seat. So there’s this sort of conflict there in our thinking to some degree.

10. 5:00

    How do we how do we reconcile these these ideas and these Concepts and even you know today amongst that you know, I’ve got teenage kids were all even older than teenage kids and I’d have a little bit of do with young people’s groups and young people find this as a bit of a struggle, you know, the idea that you know, your works is almost a dirty word, you know to say things about works and and and in any way employing that works have any involvement in our in the Judgment seat or anything like that. So it’s a it’s a it’s there is a Moment of confusion in all this to some degree.

11. 5:31

    So hopefully we might try and clear some of that up today and we’ll see that works are closely associated with the Judgment seat and yet the concepts that we’ve we know a true of that works don’t sort of earn salvation rule is also true as well and hopefully that will come through in what we look at.

12. 5:53

    We’re as I said, we’re going to build on some of the concepts. We looked at yesterday. We sort of look at this idea that there are scripture records two types of recordings of our life The Book of Life in which our name is in and we saw from Revelation 20 that the verdict about whether we are in the Kingdom or not, whether we are saved or not whether we are rejected or not is based on the book of life and I’m being in that book and yet we saw in that judgment seat seen that the books of our life are opened as well and we were judged according to The things written in the books plural, so we need to sort of try and reconcile that a little bit this morning as well. But what we what we have tried to do in the previous session is as opposed show that the the verdict about our salvation is based on Grace, but at the Judgment seat our works are still considered and and in there is a decision made about those works and there is a an evaluation of those Works made. which is In some way separate from the verdict of Salvation. So let’s try and build on that a little bit this morning and I’m going to introduce this concept now that will then we’ll sort of follow through in the rest of our studies this idea that if their name is in the Book of Life to use this this word picture this analogy, I’ve sort of said, well, we are in a Zone here that I’ve just called The Pale of Salvation. We are in God’s Plan of

13. 7:19

    Salvation. We are in essence we are saved in that It’s not the of course ultimately that we haven’t been given immortality and there’s always still the possibility we could make shipwreck of our faith Etc. But while we remain in this book of life or this pail of Salvation, we are in the will be accepted by our lord and there are some conditions put on this idea and we’re going to look at these quotes in John John to and John for ETC that talk about we are we can have confidence that the Judgment seat if we abide in the lights. Or if we walk in the light, sorry if we abide in him, so we’re going to try and look at what that means is we go through as well.

14. 8:01

    So if we are in the Book of Life. We will be recipients of God’s Grace will be in the Kingdom. However, the reality is our name can be removed from that book and we saw that referred to in some of those verses that I got to to read yesterday and then can be removed which means we are taken out of that zone if you like out of that pail of Salvation and we got many examples in scripture of people who either deliberately made a choice to walk out of that zone and to leave that zone of Salvation or who drifted out of that zone all The very behavior and attitude deems them to have left that zone in God’s eye. So Judas for example went out and there’s a point made about that that he went out and it was dark, you know, we went out into the world and he rejected the light he was instead of abiding in the light in the presence of his Lord. He went out and put himself outside that the prodigal son in the parable in Luke 15.

15. 8:59

    He goes out from his father’s house and he wants to wants to sample the world. So he leaves physically in that Parable goes out into a world of darkness in that sense and then comes to his senses later on and comes back in to the family and there are many other warnings in scripture of people who are either, you know in a path in a decline that is eventually going to lead to them being outside that zone as well and you know outside God’s pale of salvation. So what just to quickly recap what we looked at in our first session, we sort of said the normal view of the Judgment seat is this idea.

16. 9:38

    We give account we receive praise and admonition and we are accepted and rejected and we sort of said well, maybe based on the parable of the sheep and goats Works slightly differently that we are accepted or rejected we give account and then there’s this receiving praise and admonition is a final part of the process and it’s probably a part that I personally haven’t given much I thought too because I suppose I’ve sort of grown up with the sort of binary view of the Judgment seat.

17. 10:05

    It’s a verdict based process that you’re in all out. And that’s the sort of terminology at the judges are going to be in or out in or out and that’s really all that. I thought about the Judgment around in or out and it’s really more than just in or out it’s much more layer than that.

18. 10:17

    And there’s this this concept of being rewarded at the Judgment seat that I haven’t really taken that that seriously because all I’ve been concerned about his in or out and whether you know, I couldn’t really Care less about being rewarded or having praise given to me. It’s been just about in or out has been the focus of my particular view this quickly flick through here. I suppose that the Judgment seat conjures up for most of us the idea of a court and I suppose that’s the closest analogy we have when we try and picture the judges little think about the Judgment see and even the word itself judgment seat. That’s it conjures up a legal context. However, I’m going to suggest that it’s not the best analogy to use when we think about what is actually taking place at the Judgment seat.

19. 11:08

    There are some major differences. Major differences which make that in that analogy a flawed analogy really when we try and relate it to the Judgment seat the judges. He’s not like a human Court in a number of very fundamental ways. One of the big differences is the judge already knows you now in a human Court situation which human courts trying to arrive at a verdict.

20. 11:32

    That’s that’s the whole sort of reason it’s established and held because all the evidence is going to be presented. And an impartial judge is going to listen to one side or the other the prosecutor or the defendant and he’s going to make a final verdict on something. That’s our idea of a courtesan.

21. 11:50

    So the channeling everything to it to this final result. And so the judge is not allowed to know you in that case. It’s got to be a blank canvas is working with him and even to extremes that are you know rapists in who’s committed rape before you can’t even bring up that that he’s done it before in some cases because it would be prejudicial to the particular case being examined at A particular time in a judge has to recuse themselves or stand down if there’s any connection with the defendant in any way at all so that is a that that the concept in the end. The objective of a human court is not really analogous to what’s going on at the at our judgment seat. And there’s this other Factor as well that’s got to be brought to account here in our sort of coming to grips with this. We are already By virtue of the fact that we are in Christ. We are already declared righteous. That would righteous is many of us know our legal term. That means that we’ve already been declared right or or innocent or have you know, there’s the Slate has been clean really our garments are washed in the blood of the Lamb. So we’re already forgiven.

22. 13:00

    We’re already innocent in a sense. So how does that also play out in our judgment seat pictures as well? And there’s some other little interesting differences to you know, Romans 8 makes things big point at the end of Romans 8 who will lay anything to the charge of God’s elect in essence. There’s no prosecutor at the Divine sort of judgment seat. There’s no prosecutor as there isn’t a human Court who who sort of lays the charges and brings the evidence against us. The question is asked who is at the Judgment who’s laying any thing to the charge of God’s elect is a God. No.

23. 13:37

    No, it’s not God he just is One who says we’re innocent. He’s justifying us. He’s at Christ know he’s they’re making intercession for us. He’s our defense attorney if you if you like so that the whole analogy is not complete is that the human cord analogy and I and I think that’s the Mind picture many of us have at the Judgment seat and yet it’s a little bit flawed as will see another analogy that I think is is probably closer. Of course.

24. 14:05

    No analogy is a perfect but this analogy I think is closer. Her to what is actually been achieved at the Judgment seat is a concept of a performance review now, I don’t know if many of you all are aware of it. Not every job has these sorts of things but in many occupations and many companies particularly if you work for a big like a multinational firm or a big pharmaceutical company or some sort of large government Department. All the employees are subject to what’s called an evaluation review or performance review and it’s often either annually and the the anniversary of your Starting date or it could be a set time in the year.

25. 14:42

    Sometimes it could be twice a year. Now a performance review you sit down with your manager, usually and your immediate supervisor and you go through what you have done and what you may not have done in the carrying out of your of your role. And so the job descriptions bought out things like kpi’s which are performance indicators that you have. You should have worked towards all these things are examined and you go through them and it’s brought to your attention whether you’ve met them with you haven’t met them with your fallen short.

26. 15:15

    Whether you’ve actually achieved what you’re supposed to have done and you know the goals that you set at the last performance review was sort of analyzed as well and you go through this this process. Now, the objective of the performance review is not to sack you or not to fire. That’s not the objective of the review sometimes in extreme cases. It happens particularly America more with their labor laws are a little bit sort of looser than ours that you know your performance review the supervisor. Could say well pack your bags and get out of here, you know, so that that is an extreme result of a performance review, but that’s not the objective nor is it really what the performance review is all about?

27. 15:56

    The performance review is trying to make you better and trying to improve your performance which in turn in our capitalist system increases the performance of the of the business unit and then eventually the company and the results the company Etc. So there’s a in our world. There’s a selfish reason behind it. It’s Trying to better you in order to better the results of the company in God’s economy.

28. 16:20

    We’re going to see there’s a reason that he does it as well and it’s not just a Judicial verdict based process. There is there is self-improvement building to it. There is development building to it. There is this this concept of God working in our lives and bringing us to Glory at all part of that judgment seat process.

29. 16:42

    So as we said one of the objectives is to help us in a performance review understand ourselves because all of us have blind spots in that regard and even if even the business World appreciates that so you identify weaknesses and we try and plan to overcome them. In fact, you’ve got to identify your own weaknesses in offering these things.

30. 17:02

    So I just always right, you know, I work too hard and all those sort of, you know, give too much effort just try too hard, but say so we got to try and identify real weaknesses. Not the not the ones we’re trying to Boss now no one likes to come under scrutiny in any way.

31. 17:16

    We don’t like it at all. It’s and and I’ve hope in any of my presentation so far haven’t sort of trivialize the Judgment seat at all. I think, you know, it’s even taking into account the quotes from first John 2 and first John four about boldness and confidence. There’s a there’s a context there and there’s a use of language there that we’ve got to take into account.

32. 17:37

    It won’t be a walk in the park in any any way at all. It’ll be a You know, the word fear is used in relationship to the judgments that we’ll talk about now, but but it’s not Terran it nonetheless and there is a reason behind it. And that no one even knew that performance review.

33. 17:55

    I remember when I worked for a company we used to have performance reviews. And remember the mornings of your performance review is very stressful. I mean I used to I couldn’t eat breakfast that morning now if those are you know me now, that’s a pretty big deal. That’s a pretty a pretty big thing.

34. 18:09

    So I was so turned up I couldn’t even have breakfast. If you know that walk past all the nice shops, and so it’s a stressful thing to have a performance review back but deep down as many people he had a performance review and okay. So if you have not yet been through that process, excellent, you know, you know, it’s not fun and you’re not looking forward to and you if you could skip it you would take the option but you deep down know it’s actually for your own good.

35. 18:34

    I’m not you know, you might have a boss is a psychopath and immediate night. I understand that but on the whole generally we know it’s for our own. Good and even when things are pointed out to us that we’ve done wrong or we’ve failed we sort of know deep down that he’s right or she’s right when that’s pointed out to us.

36. 18:51

    We know that we know where we sort of once a week. This is bored out. We sort of know that’s true. And so if we have feeding and we will try and work on that and make that go away or reduce it or whatever. In one of the other purposes of a performance review particular if you work for an American type company or a multinational company, there are bonuses and rewards attached to that and we’ll bring that up as well in as we continue on with this analogy. Now some of you may feel a little bit uncomfortable that analogy I think well, I don’t really like that that much and I’m just I just say go back to The Parables again and this think about particularly the parable of the pounds and the parable of the talents and in the sense you can see this analogy is quite strong, isn’t it? When I look at it now we have got time at Matthew 25. The three servants are brought in and they have to settle their account and have to explain what they’ve done with their Lords resources while he’s been away and also Luke 19 with the ten Servants of who get a pound each. They told to occupy till I come on which means to do business while I’m away then they’re called in and their performance is reviewed.

37. 19:59

    So there is a there is a sense that that is quite a genuine analogy to use and When I think that’s that’s closer to what’s been achieved then the court case analogy. So this brings us back to our our main objective this morning looking at the the connection between works and Grace and and trying to reconcile these ideas. Look, we’re going to build on these this this chart a little bit further and I have as an aspect of this Charter haven’t really gone explained or gone into yet. But basically we ask the question. Why do we have this second stage of the Judgment? So if we if we have if it is true that there is this sense that we are accepted early on in the process like the parable of the sheep and goats would indicate and then a secondary process we what’s the need for the secondary process. Well, we have to give account and give account involves looking at our works or our actions in our life and also our motives are examined.

38. 21:00

    There’s no doubt about that. And we going to look at this word fan arou that comes through in all these judgment seat versus that that implies this opening up in a revealing of our inner man. So we that happens. Well, we’ve already identified this as one of the objectives of that process to refine our character to have our our faults Purge. And to prepare us for immortality then that makes sense.

39. 21:24

    I think we all will get that and I think if you remember HP Mansfield’s ideas on the purpose behind the Judgment see that came out very clearly this idea of preparing us for immortality. But there’s also another objective of the Judgment seat. Which and again this is where I’ve said before I never really sort of either cared about or took seriously or or even sort of featured in my judgment seat sort of view the idea of rewards and rebuke that the Judgment seat.

40. 21:56

    We are going to be rebuked and rewarded and I think because we we have connected been rebuked at the Judgment seat. We’ve connected that with whether we’re saved or not. And I think that’s where the confusion for me has laid will be rebuked at the judge says no doubt about that but doesn’t necessarily mean that we won’t be saved or accepted by our Lord and we’re gonna be praised for certain things right thing.

41. 22:21

    My goodness, how could I possibly be praised for anything? It doesn’t it sort of goes against I suppose everything I’ve thought about before about the Judgment seat, but there’s no doubt. We’re going to be praised for things we do at the Judgment seat. There’s so many references to this this idea that you can’t ignore it.

42. 22:37

    And if we’re looking at the Judgment seat being an overall verdict that you know, all our actions and life is weighed up and then there’s this one result that comes out of that. It doesn’t make sense that we are ever going to anyone would really be praised in that. Sense and rebuked and praise at the same time. But when we separate those processes, it’s sort of to me makes makes a bit of sense.

43. 22:58

    So let’s go through it. Even yesterday. We looked at this idea of the The Works been examined by the by the blowtorch and whether we take that as referring to individuals or some refer it to the the sort of leaders in the teachers and their Collegiate of the underlying principles the same The Works are examined the motives are examined as to whether they’re gold or precious.

44. 23:21

    Soul just wooden stubble the torch is applied the scenario presented in First Corinthians 3 is this person’s work is totally consumed so his work was might it might have been motivated by wrong reasons or for self-aggrandizement all whatever it might have been or even foolishness and and insensitivity whatever it might have been for some reason it’s burnt and yet it says he still saved so there’s a disconnect between the salvation. Vault of that person and the evaluation of their Works in that particular case And in that chapter as well, there’s this emphasis on the idea of reward which is connected to the works and separate from the Salvation event. So hopefully that makes sense.

45. 24:11

    We are rewarded according to the works or even if it’s even if it is the leaders or the all the teachers in that case the rewards go according to the works in that scenario that’s person receives no reward because his works are all consumed and yet it says he’s still saying Oops yet.

46. 24:28

    That was through fire. So so keep that in mind. And so First Corinthians 3 says everyone will receive his own reward according to his labor K the connection between what he’s done and rewards and yet that’s separate from salvation. That’s ever from being saved. If any man’s work abide. Remember we looked at that yesterday or survives.

47. 24:48

    He receives a reward it’s mentioned again, if any man’s work work and it’s a work they’re not word is burned up he suffers. As a loss which will try and make some suggestions about as well. But he still say nonetheless and that picture that is presenting First Corinthians 3 shows that difference between the works even all his Works in that scenario been burnt up.

48. 25:11

    He still saved so we want to make some sense of that. We sort of looked at that yesterday that the works are totally destroyed, but he’s saved as well. Now we have again. These are Concepts have been brought up with us as kids. Haven’t we salvation is a gift from God eternal life is a gift you can earn it and yet there’s this connection between works and the Judgment seat that we sort of got to try and come to grips with for by Grace.

49. 25:38

    You are saved through faith as a gift of God. So how is it a gift of God and then if it’s connected to our works how then is it a gift and we need to think about that. Now what I’m going to do very quickly than this morning is look at Reality of rewards for works.

50. 25:55

    You can’t deny that any so much a part of the Judgment seat picture that you can’t deny the connection between works and rewards and also this idea of proportional rewards at the Judgment seat. And again that it goes against their idea of the gift of God and Grace and given given salvation is a gift you this idea that people are saved.

51. 26:16

    Yes, but there’s there’s a proportion in the rewards receive at the Judgment seat. We got to try and build all these things into whatever picture we have of the Judgment seat eventually. Even even this word mean the words taken from a parable and it seems to be the word that using nearly every song You have about the Judgment seat and every place I’ve ever been in on the Judgment seat this idea of well done. And I find that again that word even is a little bit counterintuitive that well done.

52. 26:46

    So you get the Judgment seat and it’s well-done think really really well. It’s isn’t it a gift is another gift from God and and even if any of us, even if we have the scarcity of you that only a few gonna be I saved is anyone even that few really well done and they really done everything.

53. 27:01

    Well, it’s sort of a an interesting concept isn’t it that we are trying to come to grips with as we as we try and look at this. We’re saved by grace, aren’t we? What why is well done the big judgment-seat word that pops up. Well, we’ll see hopefully see that he’s a big part of the Judgment seat and it is can be reconciled.

54. 27:21

    Okay, I’ve put a lot of the quotes this morning up on the slides because if I we look them all up we’ll just Here all day and I know no one wants to do that tickling my wife so I know I can’t go over time when she’s here. So invite me back another time. We can go over time all your life. Just want to show the connection between works and rewards and this is Greek word the word according that we’re going to look at in the English Bible.

55. 27:46

    According is in the king in the King James. Anyway, it’s this Greek word Hoss which means in the manner or in like manner or like even as its shows a connection between the two Things Hoss so it’s translated here. Mainly according. I put put it in red revelation 22 verse 12 behold I come quickly and my reward is with me. So there’s the idea of reward to give every man according as his work took a singular there.

56. 28:16

    Yes, as his work shall be according Hoss. So the connection between his work and the reward is is really clear there Matthew 16 for the son of man shall come in the glory. Three of his father with his angels and he shall reward every man according horse to his work Revelation 2 verse 23. I am he that searcheth the reins in the hearts and will give unto every man every one of you sorry according Hoss according to his works first Peter 1:17, the father who without respect of persons judges according to Every Man’s work. And pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. So so here’s this connection of work and the reward and we will try and delve into that a little bit as we go through. I need to go into that.

57. 29:12

    Okay, so works and reward we’ve established that there’s a connection would Now quickly establish that there’s a connect there’s this proportional concept that plays out in the giving of rewards. We’ve got hints of it in a parabolic sent have sent seven winner in The Parables Matthew 25 says well done good and faithful servant.

58. 29:32

    You have been Faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things and sort of start to get this this idea of a proportional response. Probably more clearer. The parable of the pounds of the miners as someone said the other day in Luke 19 your pound has gained 10 pounds have authority over 10 cities.

59. 29:54

    So you can see the results that he achieved is is proportional connected to the reward is given and then the next servant that comes along he’d achieved five pounds out of the one he gets the authority over five cities and then interestingly enough Later on in the parable the person who doesn’t use his talent has it taken from him and given to somebody else want to try think about how that plays out to in the in the whole rewards scenario. Now we also on the negative side of the ledger. So so rewards are given proportionally but also rebuke and Punishment appears to be proportional as well hints that adding a few of the statements of Our Lord which are sort of a little bit enigmatic but they do imply this idea Luke 12 says and that servant which knew his Lord’s will so he knew he knew it.

60. 30:52

    He did something wrong sort of very consciously shall be beaten with many stripes. So this is the story of many stripes, but he that knew not and didn’t commit things worthy of Stripes. So we sort of did it ignorantly he didn’t quite know he was doing something wrong, even though he should have shall be beaten with few stripes for unto whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required.

61. 31:17

    Try it just try and work that through into the Judgment seat process. In the in the going through of our life in the examination of our of what we’ve done and what we haven’t done. It appears that some people get a harder time and get rebuked and receive more castigation or rebuke from our Lord than others May who have not had same the same advantages or opportunities that others have had.

62. 31:45

    Now these interesting Matthew 10 again on the idea of reward. He that receives that you can all see that up there. But I’ll read anyone here that receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward and he that receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man.

63. 32:01

    Shall receive a righteous man’s reward and even someone who gives that our a cup of water in the Name of Christ says he shall not lose his reward. So even in that little parrot in that little statement that parabolic statement you’ve got these Different rewards mentioned you got a prophet’s reward a righteous man’s reward and a cup of water givers reward anything. Well, you know, what why differentiate that what yf7 if reward is be careful how I say this I say simply eternal life. That’s probably an understatement snot if the word if the reward we get is only eternal life and that’s what the judges he’s dishing out.

64. 32:42

    Yes, you know, there’s binary yes-or-no in or out Thing then why are we talking about levels or grades or qualities of rewards its we’re just in or out that should be it. But obviously there’s more happening than just that there’s an indication also that how we live our life now and the things we do and the things we don’t do have an impact on the quality of our reward and how we reward is played out in the future.

65. 33:12

    There’s some very interesting little statements. Matthew 7 is interesting judge not that you be not judged now again thinking that through the idea. I always thought was if you know, if you bit harsh judging people and the Lord will reject you’ll be harsh to you and just reject you at the Judgment seat, but that it seems a little bit so it’s a little bit extreme isn’t it a little bit, you know?

66. 33:40

    The Lord we can be forgiven of all our sins can’t wheel is there’s no in our context unforgivable sin. So if we have done something that’s a little bit judgmental and we may feel guilty about that later on in our life even decades. I think gee I was bit judgmental back then and it’s probably too late to rectify it.

67. 33:55

    We think well that’s blown it for me. I’m out of the Kingdom because I’m going to get judged as I judge. Somebody else that it’s something I did 20 years ago, and that’s probably behind the guilt of people in the rest homes or wherever who thinking, how am I going to face? The Judgment?

68. 34:06

    I did that. Well, I think there’s no sin. That’s Unforgivable. So how does that literally play out? Maybe I’m just suggesting maybe because we’ve acted that way that there is we are judged harshly by a Lord and rebuked for those things and told off about them by our Lord in a severe way in a proportion of how we’ve treated others in our life and bought maybe grief or or pain to somebody else judge. Not that you be not judged for with what judgment ye judge. Ye shall be judged and we What measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.

69. 34:42

    So maybe that plays out in some way second Corinthians 9 but I say he that sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly and he which soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully.

70. 34:55

    This is this idea of if you’re generous with others, then God will be in a sense generous with you. Now. How does that play out? Is that just about any that just refer to one in or out scenario or the way we dealt with it the Judgment seat and they’ll Rewards Save a build into that into that process.

71. 35:12

    Here’s what we’re looking at with Jonah Matthew 6 layup or which means a mass or build up for yourselves Treasures in Heaven where neither moth nor rust does corrupt. There’s a Matthew 6 is full of this idea of reward, isn’t it? It’s interesting that uses this plural Treasures in Heaven that would indicate some people have more Treasures than others.

72. 35:33

    It’s like a like a bank account sort of terminology. Isn’t We Lay Up install Treasures in Heaven Is there someone Which those of us who are who are generous with our money and do it behind the scenes or or give our time and our effort and do it with no one without reward and praise who carry on their life without getting rewarded from others.

73. 35:55

    Is there a sense in which they are building up a reservoir of treasures that they will receive not necessarily salvation for but they’ll receive reward for it in a particular way. And it’s interesting when you look at that that you know, you look at the sermon on the mountain is in the Lord says about the Pharisees I suppose he’s talking about the Pharisees primarily. He says they have received their reward in a sense. They got recognition.

74. 36:19

    They got on our they got Glory they got position. They got status all those things are very important in that, you know judeo based culture in which they live that you know,

75. 36:33

    They got those things if that’s the reward we’re going to get than it’s got to play out some way in a similar Fashion on the other side on the flip side in the in the Kingdom. So just try and keep those things in mind.

76. 36:50

    Luke 14 I’m just what we look I’m just trying to get us now as we look at some of these verses that we look at rewards we can simply read reward being eternal life, but there seems to be a specific aspect to it when you know you do there’s a quick look at the fission six in a moment. It says whatsoever a man does he will be whatsoever. Good thing he does he receive a reward. There’s a specific aspect of that whatsoever. It’s not just a general outcome of his life gets. And more good things and evil and you get sort of eternal life for that.

77. 37:22

    But there’s this specific nature to it. We’ll get to that in a minute Luke 14 and thou shalt be blessed. Are you if you do if you invite people who can’t invite you home. He says they can’t recompense you they can’t sort of pay you back. There’s a special blessing for you’re going to be recompensed at the Judgment seat of the just you say, well that’s just a game only eternal life, but there’s a special blessing for those who do that who is show that generosity who? A who go that extra mile and do that. Sorry.

78. 37:55

    Baby be clued in that he’s actually talking about rewards because only talking about the judge the judge. Yes. That’s a good point. Actually the river is exactly who made the resurrection involves other people, but it’s the gesture are rewarded in that way. Yep. That’s a good point. It’s actually going to talk about in a moment Luke 20:36 says those are obtained.

79. 38:16

    Those that are worthy of the Resurrection shall be made equal unto the angels and we sort of get this ID. There’s a quality in that whole process, but we’ll get to that I’m jumping ahead. Sorry settle down even we said that the idea of teachers been receiving a stricter judgment and I sort of made the sort of a facetious type Point.

80. 38:36

    What why would I if I believe that was in relation to my eternal life? I’m a little bit crazy to be a teacher and I because why would you put yourself in a harder judgment Zone that would increase the likelihood of me being rejected if you think of that logically, what would it be? It seeks your in Michael my meeting at Gosford when I’m going to be get stricter Judgment of stricter judgment relates to my eternal life then man. I mean, it’s a little bit crazy for me to do that and and and I believe teachers will get stricter judgment, but they will be restored get rebuke from our To know be they’ll be set straight on a lot of things and we’ll get to that as we go through as well.

81. 39:15

    But I’m just trying to put these ideas in our mind before we draw any conclusions. Again, there’s so many so many verses here. Let’s look at the Ephesians 6:1. I guess we just turn to Ephesians 6. You see why I put them up on the slides because we’ll be here all day. We look at every single one, but

82. 39:36

    And as you’re ready, you may think I’m just stretching a little bit too far all the reading too much into it, but I can’t help feeling there’s got to be an explanation for the specific aspects of these rewards when they’re mentioned

83. 39:49

    Vision 6. It’s verse 8 is the one we’re going to focus on but it’s talking about servants. Don’t just do things to please your master, you know and to do it for him and not do it when he’s not looking at cetera, but do everything unto the Lord. Verse 7 with Good Will doing Service as to the Lord and not to men verse 8 so he have got someone who works in you could apply this to your own job where you apply it to a real service situation the attitude you take to the job you can say well I’m going to do the bare minimum that keep my boss happy or I’m going to work unto the Lord, which is this higher ideal, which is what Matthew 6 and 5 6 7 all about got reaching this level of perfection.

84. 40:33

    You can choose which way you go. He says if you choose to go the harder route the harder option, then there’s a reward a special reward in that and so he says knowing verse 8 that whatsoever good thing the king the new King James got whatever sort of just trying to drill down to this specific aspect.

85. 40:56

    Whatever good thing. Any man does the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be Bond or free or free so the principle applies in all About life, but just think about that whatever, you know, it’s a specific thing a specific course we choose to take in our whether it be our job or our occlusal life for a family of we take a specific course the higher calling the higher Road, whatever you want to call it.

86. 41:21

    There’s a specific reward for that. That may be above and beyond the granting of immortality will all the acceptance of the judgments at the Judgment seat in the Kingdom. We’ve talked about Matthew 6 already about being rewarded and runs all the way through Matthew 6 Galatians 6 whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap and let us not be weary in well-doing for in due season.

87. 41:49

    We shall reap if we faint not again, there’s there’s the results in the amount of effort to put it at the proportional and connected the this is interesting little phrase. And another you could read you can maybe read too much into it because it could just be a simple flourish. Or an expression but it’s got it just makes you think and second John one or second John verse 8 really it says look to yourselves that you lose not those things which we have wrought but that we receive a full reward.

88. 42:19

    Now, what’s the difference in a full reward and normal reward? Is is there a is there a Max reward? Is there if we lived our life according to Matthew 5 6 & 7 there’s a full reward and there’s something lesser than that if we don’t so you say look to those things. Which we’ve taught you about and receive the full reward, maybe maybe it’s as I said, maybe just expression but it implies something that we need to think about.

89. 42:47

    Then we can go on and on and on I’ll just flick through these very quickly. He’s some examples of the idea examples of proportionality in rewards. We saw it in the parable already parable of the pounds have authority over tens tens cities five cities Etc. But even as other little hints as you go through the gospels, for example, remember the story where the mother of the sons of Zebedee was somebody’s wife comes and says to Jesus special request to Jesus can my son’s sit on your right hand on your left which was a position of Honor.

90. 43:20

    It’s been part of the inner the inner court or the you know, click of a kingdom isn’t the sit there in that in that sort of close proximity and be part of the inner group. It’s a great seat of Honor now, Jesus doesn’t say, oh don’t be silly. There’s no such thing in the kingdom are Cool under the out look like he doesn’t say that he says well, that’s not mine to give my father will actually grant that that blessing which indicates.

91. 43:46

    There may be an inner group that are associated with Christ in a much more closer way and intimate way then others in the kingdom and there is that those positions those job descriptions are genuine their ask there are somebody there are people are going to be on the right hand on the left.

92. 44:03

    He doesn’t deny the reality of those positions. He says that’s God’s in fact, he confirms of my saying it Gods. That’s God’s prerogative to grant that Daniel 10 and most of us are aware of this little scenario and As I said before we equal onto the Angels, what does that mean? Does that mean we’re all equal like the Angels because the angels are not equal are they we don’t quite know how that hierarchy of the Angels Came about whether it’s based on their performance in a previous era or Epoch or even Another Universe. We don’t we don’t know really where the Angels came from and where they’re why there is a hierarchy of both position and knowledge amongst them, but there is there really is and there are angels called are Archangels, there are angels that have more abilities than other angels that have more knowledge than other Angels.

93. 44:53

    Their angel would have special jobs is that there’s an angel in Daniel called palimony. Who’s the wonderful number who’s in charge of numbers? I think you know accountants have got a you know, that’s that’s that’s the dream of every accountant. That’s a bit know how much they have probably taken it too far. I think I think I’ve got reach that limit. So yeah, Michael is called in it. Little story and Daniel 10 most of you know, and I’m sure that the younger ones may not be aware of it. But this angel that comes Daniel praise. This Angel comes to him three weeks later and says, look, I’m I heard your words.

94. 45:26

    I’ve come for your responded to your words, but I got held up by I got by the words of the Prince of Persia Prince of Greece the country with Prince of Greece. I got held up trying to do something in world affairs and I was being resisted and I couldn’t fulfill the job. And so this other Angel was sent. St.

95. 45:46

    Michael was a chief Angel. So again, you got this idea of hierarchy not just hierarchy in position, but high-ranking ability, it would appear he comes along and he fixes a problem up for me and I needed his help. And as I said, that’s interesting not just rank, but also ability now does that translate into the kingdom as well? When we’re in the kingdom are there saints that have more ability and are given more power in some sort of physical sense or or mental sensor that they can do things that other Is can’t maybe maybe that that if the analogy of been like under the Angels carries forward into immortality than that, that is a reality, isn’t it in some way?

96. 46:26

    And you know when we think about our life in the Kingdom, we’re not robots are we got never wants us to be robots. He always wants us to to use our mind and our faculties to do things and he always makes it that we’ve got to you know arrived at the seasons and make certain calls.

97. 46:43

    Now, I think that it’s hard to imagine that goes out the window when we’re in the kingdom and they’re all of a sudden we’ve sort of make every perfect decision in every perfect way that there would appear and that little example would help would help us come to that conclusion that there is Sense that as we reign as kings and Priests that we do make decisions and there may be other saints that we can call on to help us in certain circumstances. So without taking it too far that is a little window I think into into that reality when there’s other ones. I haven’t looked at but you know, there’s that story of the prophet Micah Micah who makes this heat to Jehoshaphat and he makes this little word picture.

98. 47:22

    He says God called the angels together in heaven and ask their opinion on how he’s going to change the course of events in Israel and one Angel suggest this another Angel suggest that one said what and I go down and be a lying spirit in the prophets Mouse and God said here. Okay. Go with that.

99. 47:39

    Yeah how literal that is. I don’t I don’t know but it’s interesting that it portrays these Immortal beings as all coming up with suggestions and ideas and and eventually one of those ideas been implemented. So again, it’s it’s interesting to think about that in terms of our Our future there’s the famous one here that all this would know as well Matthew 19.

100. 48:02

     The apostles are given will be given to sit on the honor and the glory and the privilege of sitting on 12 Thrones judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel sort of specific role a specific position of honor and power that you and I will not get okay, so there is a sense of inequality in that outcome.

101. 48:25

     Actually, this is this a very interesting one. Maybe we’ll look that up as well. Let’s look at Matthew 19. Let’s look at a couple of these. I promise I won’t get much longer. Just wanted to plant the seed ye Matthew 19. Here’s the context here is You know the Rich Young Ruler whose come and said, you know what must I must I do to inherit eternal life in the Lord sort of delves into that attitude and says well and it gives him this answer that really is specific to him. It’s not to All Saints of all, Tommy says give everything away and sell what you have give it to the poor and come and follow me because he’s focusing on the need of that particular man at that time.

102. 49:11

     The apostles he that response and they start thinking in Peter says in verse 27 usually weighs Peter isn’t who jumps in with these little things verse 27 Peter says then Peter said unto him behold. We have forsaken all and followed you what will we have their vote? Thereafter? Anything will Jesus could say what a stupid question Peter you idiot.

103. 49:32

     Of course, you can have eternal life. And what does there is a disease. Is there anything else matters? Is there any old what else would you want? Well, Jesus sort of doesn’t couch the The answer look quite like that verse 28. Jesus says unto them verily I say unto you to you to the group that not just to Peter they which have followed me in the Regeneration when the son of man shall sit in the Throne of his glory shall also sit upon twelve Thrones judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Now, that’s what the verse we just looked at now. We’re all pretty okay with that but read on in verse 29 so that verse 28 was to you was the immediate recipients but verse 29 says and everyone.

104. 50:12

     Throughout all time that has forsaken house or Brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children for land or lands for my name’s sake shall receive a hundredfold end. So the the injection or whatever whatever and is in Granite City at the additional thing here the receive a hundredfold end shall inherit eternal life. Now, that’s interesting.

105. 50:38

     What does that mean? Literally? I don’t I can’t give you an exact answer to Question, but it implies that maybe it implies that say a protester from the from the Middle Ages who is goes and has his tongue ripped out and he maintains his faithfulness despite incredible persecution sees his family persecuted all the terrible things of that experience may get a better reward than Darren de Porres is live this pretty nice middle-class life on the beautiful Central Coast of New South Wales and had eight pretty good and had a pretty good life man.

106. 51:10

     So maybe there is in that Um sort of proportionality that that there’s a reward given to that person more than say us 21st century sort of got it good believers. And then the next verse says in verse 13, this is the phrase we’ll finish up with thinking about many that are first shall be last and the last shall be first again.

107. 51:34

     That is an interesting concept and we might just have a quick think about that before we finish up. This whole idea of been least in the kingdom of God. What does that mean? How does that actually play out? And is it something you’ve really ever thought about? What is what on Earth does that mean to be least in the kingdom of God as a reality is a concept that a lot of these references are in Matthew the concentrating but just go to Matthew 5 verse 19. Let’s just try and think this through This is a really really interesting little little word picture and again and again, I think it’s also this.

108. 52:12

     This little section here will reinforce the thesis of my my whole set of studies that that there is a difference between salvation and eternal life and and being rebuked or punished in the Judgment seat. There is a difference and again, it gets comes out time and time again, let’s just pick it up in verse verse 19 whosoever. Therefore shall break.

109. 52:37

     Now the King James has got break. Has anyone else got another rendition of that? Relaxes is good. I think I say yes, please Knowles relaxes. So it’s in some way watering down God’s principles. So he that shall break one of the least of these Commandments and chill influence others teach men others that teach men the same He Shall be Called least in the Kingdom of Heaven. So this is a Interesting little outcome here and then it goes on and says but whosoever shall do and teach so he walks the walk and talks the talk He Shall be Called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

110. 53:18

     Now, who is this person that water’s down certain principles. And and what does that mean? Well, there are so many there are so many examples you could think of and make of this but you could say well and you could go both ends of the spectrum. I mean some people might when they say the word relax is he’s got said well, That’s somebody watering down standards of watering down sort of, you know, letting people do things that they shouldn’t do or whatever or you can jump the other end of the spectrum. So well, that could be someone that’s playing down some of those really important things in Matthew 5 6 and 7, like like piece that the best of the peacemakers that John has been telling us and in the Ecclesia instead of making peace. They making you know Division and and not talking to other religious and thinking they’re better than everyone else. So that is also watering down the principles of God. So on both ends of the spectrum I think are relevant here and if that affects other people the problems magnifying and the result of that is that person is not necessarily rejected at the Judgment seat.

111. 54:19

     There is something about Grace in his faith that that means that he’s accepted his in the pale of Salvation is in the book of life, but there are consequences for that and the consequences play out into the kingdom. He’s called least in the kingdom of God and whatever that means and the other Brother who’s consistently teaching and doing is great in the kingdom of God. Now there’s this hierarchy of words actually just from Harry weekers book on the studies in the gospel brother would he could comments and says there is a there is here an impressive combination of severity and graciousness how greatly the special responsibility of the teacher is accentuated. My brethren be not many teachers is Queenie from James three knowing that we shall receive heavy and judgment yet. It is noted.

112. 55:05

     Although least such a one may still be in the kingdom and it’s interesting. He goes first Corinthians 3 that which we looked at yesterday’s a cross-reference their so even though he’s least he still in the Kingdom which is it, which is again, maybe something we’ve never really sort of got a handle on II hadn’t up until I looked at this subject that there is this interesting sort of concept.

113. 55:31

     Let’s just move along. there seems to be a bit of a hierarchy in the Kingdom you in the use of these these Greek words now while we’re in Matthew, let’s look at Matthew 18 verse for just just just not far away Matthew 18 verse 4 and here’s another sort of quantitative statement about our rewards in the in the Kingdom Matthew 18 verse for whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child the same is greatest in the kingdom of God. Now the word great that we looked at in Matthew 5 that the the brother who’s a teacher and a doer he’s consistent what he says and does he’s going to be great that were great is the word nigger we get MegaMart from whatever it’s a mega. This is a higher word in the Greek. It’s a wooden deck zone.

114. 56:26

     I And it’s even higher than Mega. So this brother who’s just all sister is a humble person who humble themselves to be like a little child there Meek and humble and they take God’s word into their mind and heart and they live it their greatest in the kingdom of God greater than even the teacher who is a really really wonderful brother.

115. 56:47

     He doesn’t he does does good things. He teaches good things but even higher than he’s just a person who humble themselves like a little child. They’re even greater than this this little hierarchy so Just my recently stopped Jesus is the greatest. The greater in the Kingdom of Heaven is the people who are humble in the Ecclesia. Someone who’s great is some someone who teaches and does it actively work doing good work for God and being consistent where they can the least is someone who is relaxing God’s principles in some way and leading others to do the same. And then the Pharisees that we’re told in Matthew five of you if you like the Pharisees, they’re not even they’re not going to be there at all.

116. 57:24

     They’re not going to be in the king so you can see that that little all hierarchical chart based upon those words in Matthew Just to finish up. I might just make quick reference. We’re about to finish some 84 which we often use about the kingdom and being accepted at the Judgment seat. Assignment says just from memory. I’d rather I’d be happy to be a doorkeeper in the you know, how you know that one that’s in the temple and we often say well and again based on the scarcity view of the Judgment seat. I’d be lucky if I get in there crawling on my hands and legs on broken glass and if if I just make it I’ll be happy to be like the cleaner that that’s sort of the impression that Very sometimes gives or what we have we use it when in fact, there’s a couple responses.

117. 58:08

     Everyone is that that position is not a lowly position at all. It’s quite a very prestigious position to be that to be so closely involved with the temple Worship in Israel’s culture and to be part of that keeping the door in the temple is a great honor and a great that people would have, you know, given their right arm to have a position like that.

118. 58:25

     So it’s sort of a not quite the we use in the in the way that is that is correct and Based on the fact that God talks about rewards so often and you know Matthew 5 6 or 7 a classic cases and they pop up all over the place is that the attitude God really wants us to have any way does God want us to strive for awards? And this is a little bit controversial because you know, I’ll use this phrase showing off to God does God want us to show off to him now that sort of loaded phrase which just to make you sort of stop and think but John I talked about Nehemiah. The other thing was John had mentioned earlier my who said you kept praying all the time.

119. 59:02

     The me for gold remember for good I could have sat on my Laurels as the governor and had a really crazy life. But remember me for good goddamn, if you could I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with doing works not to earn salvation because that’s not going to happen.

120. 59:14

     That’s not what it’s all about. But consciously doing things in the Ecclesia for other people people are suffering going through hard times all those things. There’s nothing wrong with striving to do those things and to doing them to impress God and to please God and this idea that runs through Emirates on look at now this idea of being well pleasing it’s a judgment seat. Word as well.

121. 59:34

     It’s using a number of judgments that context being well pleasing is based on the sacrifices under the law and the sweet smelling Savor and all those Concepts that we can live our lives to give pleasure to God and if that’s your objective to please him to give pleasure. It’s born out in your works and things that you do consciously and I said, I think you know, sometimes we use the the the parable of the I’m going off script you so just bear with me as I ramble on but the parable of the sheep and the goats way that the people there don’t know that they’ve done good. You know, they say oh, when did we see you hungry? And when we see if really when you delve into that Parable what they didn’t know is they did it to Jesus. It wasn’t they didn’t know that they did it. They obviously knew that they did it they went and visited someone in jail.

122. 1:00:17

     You don’t forget that lightly, but they didn’t know they did it for the Lord. That was that was where the connection is here in Jesus. If you’ve done it to the least of these Brethren you’ve done it to me. So we We need to consciously do good works. It’s not something going to magically happen somehow and it’s something we need to consciously do and Nehemiah did consciously do good works and Jesus tells us we got to you know, give he tells us you’ve arms in secret for the direct objective that your father who sees in secret will reward you openly so there’s nothing wrong with consciously doing those things to please God and this is where I think young people get this they sort of get like they struggle with this because I say, well, why do I have to go the meeting do I go they just Impress God and earn brownie points.

123. 1:00:58

     Well, it’s not linked to your salvation. If that is something you do to please God that you want to give God you want to show God your appreciation and and you want to be a sweet smelling Savor if you want to use that term to God and give God pleasure. Anyway, I’m raving on so I better finish up just to finish up.

124. 1:01:14

     This little idea went look at it. Now. It’s interesting this little analogy in this little idea when when David rewards his mighty men. He actually rewards them on me. It’s on what they achieved all the great feats that they’d achieved. It’s really quite interesting. So these men all went out to the cave of a dull and Etc.

125. 1:01:34

     They you know says that they’re pretty sort of Motley Crue that’s what they were in debts and they were fleeing from this and that it was sort of like us really there’s no bodies that were in trouble and you know looking for something and they come out to David and they are with David during the bad years the trial years in the wilderness and when David comes to power and he’s made King in and Samuel 23 and First Chronicles 11 is quite a specific response that David has any cracks these different hierarchies and different levels and there’s a group called The Three and they’ll and he says they were water because they jumped in a picking killed a lion or they did this and and the defeats and the acts of courage. They shown were were specifically related to the position.

126. 1:02:20

     They got in the in the in the Kingdom. There’s this connection with them. I mean all these men were part of his kingdom all of them work. Take that into his kingdom. They all became his he’s private Army and he’s you know, he’s immediate supporters and all that. They all got they were all there in honor. But there were some that were given special places and special positions.

127. 1:02:38

     There was another group called the three there’s another grank of three. There’s another Elite group called The 30 and it’s you know, we had time to look at it with this. This guy was one of the 30 but he wasn’t one of the three and this one was one of the three was not one of the the secondary and they all get they all get these these rewards according to the service and the courage that they’d shown so I look like I have gone over time.

128. 1:02:57

     I apologize. Hopefully we just planted some seeds. Thank you for listening to the good Christian talks podcast, Please Subscribe for new episodes and leave a review and apple podcast or whatever service you are listening from to help people find the show when they search for it. If you enjoyed this talk share it on social media. So other people can find it to for show notes and links to the talk that you just listen to visit our show page at anchor dot f m / G CT We want to encourage everyone to share their thoughts from the talk this week on Facebook or Instagram where we are at good christadelphians talks or on Twitter where we are at GCT underscore podcast. If you know of a great talk, we want to know about it to send a suggestion to good christadelphians talks at gmail.com or message us on any of our social media platforms. Thank you for listening.

129. 1:03:53

     God bless and talk to you next week.