Category Archives: Christianity

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January 2, 2024

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Bible Overview, Christianity, Heaven, Jesus

What is the Judgment Seat of Christ?

The Bible speaks of three future, Divine judgments of humans. Two of these judgment take place after death. Hebrews 9 says no one will escape God’s judgment. “It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27) One judgment is of those who die without having received Jesus as their Savior and is called the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11). The other is called the Judgment Seat of Christ, or The Bema Seat.

The Judgment Seat of Christ is a judgment of Christians, which raises a lot of questions. Will the Christian be judged for his sins? Will the Christian be judged for unconfessed sins? If the Judgment Seat of Christ is not a judgment of sin, what will be judged? Will anyone at that judgment not make it into Heaven?

Second Corinthians 5 gives this judgment its name, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:10) The verses immediately before this statement are clearly addressed to Christians. This means every Christian will stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ to be judged by Him. Because this is a judgment of Christians it cannot be an examination of sin. God promises that at salvation a person’s every sin is forgiven. “Their sins and lawless deed I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17) If God promises that at salvation He will take away a person’s sin and never again bring it to mind, then a later judgment of sin is impossible. The Judgment Seat of Christ cannot be a judgment of sin.

First Corinthians 3 appears to be discuss the same Judgment Seat of Christ when it says, “Each one’s work will become clear; for the day will declare it because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work of what sort it is.” (1 Corinthians 3:13) The judgment seat of Christ is a judgment of work done for Jesus. The quality of the Christian’s work for Jesus will be evaluated. Christian work that is ultimately worthless, whether it be selfish, mean-spirited, proud or self-reliant, will be burned up. That which is truly worthwhile will remain.

At that judgment rewards will be given and taken away. (2 John 1:8) However, even Christians who have no rewards enter Heaven. “He himself will be saved, yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:15) The reception of rewards at the Judgment Seat will have not cause anyone to boast in their rewards. All will recognize the rewards they received is only because of the grace of God. Revelation 4:10 shows believers laying their crowns at God’s feet in recognition that He alone is worthy of praise.

The Bible does not say exactly when the judgment seat of Christ takes place. Certain indications suggest this judgment happens sometime after the individual’s death and before the full inauguration of Christ’s millennial kingdom. Though a person’s eternal state will not hang in the balance, the Judgment Seat will be a time of great seriousness. Those who have done little for Jesus will be ashamed. Therefore, all Christians must live to please God now so they will be ready for the day when they stand before their Savior and give account for how they have served Him. (2 Corinthians 5:9)

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December 19, 2023

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Christianity, Christmas, Jesus

How do we know Jesus is the promised Messiah?

The Gospel of Matthew describes thirteen separate instances when Old Testament prophecy was fulfilled. Matthew presents these fulfilled prophecies as proof Jesus is the promised Messiah. At the birth of Jesus several specific and important prophecies about the Messiah were fulfilled.

The first promise of the Messiah in the Bible is found in Genesis 3:15. God told the Devil that the woman’s seed would defeat sin and Satan. The choice to refer to the Deliverer as the seed of the woman is an odd one, unless the phrase “her seed” has a particular significance. The prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 reveals the significance of that unique description. “The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” The seed of the woman is a child born without an earthly father. The birth of Jesus of virginal Mary fulfills these two promises. (Matthew 1:22)

A later promise of the Messiah is found in Genesis 49:10, “ The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet until Shiloh comes, and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.” This is a promise that the Messiah would be a great ruler who would bring unending peace to Israel. The Messiah had to be a descendant of Judah. The genealogies of Jesus recorded in Matthew and Luke show Him to be descended from Judah by birth (Mary’s side of the family) and by adoption (Joseph’s side of the family).

Another, related prophecy, is that the Messiah would be a descendant of David’s with a legitimate claim to the throne of Israel. (2 Samuel 7:12-13) As the adopted son of Joseph Jesus is the legal descendant of Kings David and Solomon. Jesus is of the tribe of Judah and the family of David exactly as Scripture foretold.

The Old Testament foretold the birth place of the Messiah. “Bethlehem Ephrathah . . out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel.” (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6) Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem is a fulfillment of that prophecy. Jesus’ flight to Egypt fulfilled the words of Hosea, “out of Egypt I have called my Son.” (Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:15) The murder of all children in Bethlehem under two years old fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah. “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” (Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:18) The timing of Jesus’ birth fulfills the promise given to Daniel that the Messiah would be cut off 483 years after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. (Daniel 9:25-26)

The fulfillment of these prophecies at the birth of Jesus are strong evidence He is the promised Messiah and the Son of God. (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23) They support the Christian’s claim that Jesus is the eternal God and the Savior of the world. As a result, He deserves all worship and obedience. He should be believed, received and entirely relied upon to forgive sinners and save them from condemnation.

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November 14, 2023

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Christianity, Church

Should Christians attend AI church services?

Increased reliance upon artificial intelligence has resulted in some churches offering AI generated church services which include digital avatars presenting an AI created message. While this is probably a gimmick and a fad that will not continue long, the fact that any church is willing to use artificial intelligence in this fashion reveals a deficient understanding of the nature of the church gathering. This deficiency is not surprising given the large number of Christians who consider watching church online to be a sufficient substitute for church attendance. Mega and multi-site churches have long been streaming the preferred preacher to various locations so each church can watch the sermon preached from the large screen display. Looking back, the jump from an online gathering and a digital pastor to an experience crafted by algorithms seems inevitable.

Church is not about an experience. Church is not primarily about being exposed to a certain body of content. Church is a gathering of Christians. (First Corinthians 11:18) If Christians do not come together, then there is no church. A church is a gathering of believers using their spiritual gifts together to promote Christian growth in all the believers in that body. (Ephesians 4:11-15) This kind of Holy Spirit dependent and Holy Spirit filled ministry cannot be achieved by any artificial or mechanical means. The church gathering is a time for Christians to sing together in a manner that teaches and admonishes one another. (Colossians 3:16) This requires people be present and engaged with each other. The gathering is a time to hear the reading, explanation and application of the Word of God (1 Timothy 4:13) from a Holy Spirit gifted and Holy Spirit filled preacher. (2 Timothy 1:6)

No computer is filled with the Holy Spirit. No computer program can have or will ever have the spiritual gifts of teaching, exhortation or encouragement. A well written computer program may be able to craft an impressive lesson which employs language and grammar far beyond the ability of the average preacher. However, spiritual change is never accomplished by the skill of an author or speaker. Spiritual change only occurs when the The Holy Spirit applies the Word of God to the life of the person. The God appointed means for teaching the Word is a Spirit filled teacher. Can the Holy Spirit use an artificially generated sermon in someone’s life? Sure. He used a donkey to open the eyes of a false prophet, (Numbers 22:24-31) and He used a false prophet to proclaim great blessings on Israel. (Numbers 24)

God can use any means He chooses to accomplish His will, but Christians are obligated to purse the ordinary means God has given to the church for its growth. (First Corinthians 1:21) No one should not look to artificially generated fellowship, singing or preaching as the means for their Christian growth. God designed Christians to gather in person with other human beings, to hear a God appointed man preach the Word of God. Church is not entertainment. Church is not mere content. Church is not an experience. The church is a gathering of Christians for Christian fellowship. That cannot be duplicated by algorithms and avatars.