The Daily Word of Righteousness

Revealed at the Judgment Seat of Christ, #4

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (I Corinthians 3:12-15)

For every work of evil done in our flesh we shall receive a corresponding loss of glory in the Kingdom of Christ, unless we have repented thoroughly, confessing our sin, and through Christ's Presence have gained victory over it.

Can our loss mount until our salvation is placed in jeopardy?

Every believer is judged by the Lord, and only the Lord will decide. Christ stated, "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness." The question raised here is one of diligence in the use of God's grace.

If our teaching at this point should frighten the reader, let us call to mind two facts. First, it is well for us to be warned. There is not enough fear of God in the land today. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We have become overfamiliar with the things of Christ and are paying the price in the loss of His Presence and glory.

Our overconfidence is not based on spiritual realities, on the true nature of the coming Day of Christ.

Second, our fear of the Lord must not paralyze us. The Lord is full of mercy, full of lovingkindness. He always is waiting to receive and assist the humble seeker, the person who trembles at the Word of the Lord.

Every one of us is a sinner saved by grace. There is only one Conqueror, only one Overcomer. His name is Christ. We overcome because He overcomes within us. His life and glory are sufficient for every individual.

The right kind of fear of the Lord will lead us to Christ for grace to help us in living the Christian discipleship so we will not be ashamed before Him at His appearing. He will help us if we will invite Him into every aspect of our life.

The proud among us will have their head-knowledge of Christ shaken severely in the coming days.

The preceding paragraphs can hardly be overemphasized. There is at the present time an emphasis on the concept that, while out of love we should attempt to please Christ, we never can be severely punished by the Lord or lose our redemption altogether no matter what we do.

This doctrine is totally unscriptural and totally destructive of the spiritual life, being void of the fear of God. It has destroyed the moral light of the Christian churches, and as a result the moral character of the nations that look to the churches for moral guidance.

The Scriptures teach clearly, both Old Testament and New Testament, the terrible severity of God. The recent stress on the goodness of God, and the corresponding ignoring of the frightful warnings of the Scriptures by "ministers" who are afraid of public opinion, has rendered the churches incompetent in Kingdom warfare—and this at a time when the forces of darkness are arising and filling the earth with lust and violence. (from A Study Guide for the Book of Second Corinthians)