Matthew12:36-37 Jesus said, “I tell you, on the Day of Judgment
people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words
you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
God the Father has ordained
a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ, to
whom he has given all power and judgment. In that day not only will the
apostate angels be judged, but all the people who have lived on earth will
appear before the court of Christ to give an account of their thoughts, words,
and actions. They will be judged according to what they have done in the body,
whether good or evil.
God’s purpose in arranging
for this day is to show forth the glory of his mercy in the eternal salvation
of the elect and the glory of his justice in the damnation of the reprobate,
who are wicked and disobedient. At that time the righteous will go into
everlasting life and receive that fullness of joy and refreshment which will
come from the presence of the Lord. But the wicked, who do not know God and do
not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, will be thrown into eternal torment and
punished with everlasting destruction away from the presence of the Lord and
the glory of his power.
Christ wants us to be
completely convinced that there is going to be a day of judgment, as a deterrent
to sin for everyone and as an added consolation for the godly in their
suffering. He has also made sure that no one knows when that day will be, so
that we may never rest secure in our worldly surroundings. But, not knowing
what hour the Lord will come, we must always be alert and may always be ready
to say, “Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.”
Amen.
The Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith
