Accepted of Him -- Part 2

Lessons learned from 2 Corinthians 5 regarding the judgment seat of Christ:

1.     We know, we have absolute confidence that we are on our way to heaven (vv. 1, 6, 8).

2.     So we’re laboring, not to get saved, but to live acceptably before the one who saved us (v. 9).

3.     This will only be possible if we walk by faith, believing the word of God (v. 7).

4.     Whether or not our works were acceptable to God will be revealed at the judgment seat of Christ (v. 10), where we will be rewarded or suffer loss, accordingly.

One more point to make from this chapter.  The very next verse (11) says:

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

I’ve always heard this verse preached in reference to witnessing.  And don’t get me wrong, the application is definitely there. 

But in examining the passage, witnessing doesn’t show up until verse 18.  And it would seem that the therefore in verse 11 would take us back to verses 9 and 10, not ahead to verse 18. 

So if we keep this verse in its immediate context – the judgment seat of Christ – then what we have is not saved people persuading lost people to get saved so they don’t go to hell, we have saved people persuading one another to live a life that God finds acceptable, as opposed to one that makes Him angry.

Which is why we go to church.  This is what the preacher does when He stands in the pulpit.  He persuades you to walk acceptably before God.  This is what real Christian friends do when they gather at the church house or go out and serve the Lord.  They encourage one another to live right. 

We persuade one another, we encourage one another, we convince one another to live our lives in such a way that the one who saved our souls and promised us a new body and a home in heaven will be pleased.

Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Do you avail yourself of this kind of fellowship?  Are you being persuaded?  And do you involve yourself in this kind of fellowship?  Are you doing some persuading? 

Looks to me like that’s what the passage calls for.  

Click here for a sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:1-9, preached at THE BIBLE Baptist Church on January 20, 2013.