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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 1:3-6). In the wonderful name of Jesus Christ. Amen

In the June 2019 teaching, we learned Christ comes with his saints the born-again believers upon the earth in the second phase of his return. It is called "the day of the Lord" in the book of Revelations when Christ comes with his saints. Therefore, the second phase of Christ's coming with his saints upon earth "shall not come, except there comes a departure, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition" (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Consequently, the born-again believers are saved from the wrath that is documented in the book of Revelation. God's judgement as described in Revelations is not for us, the born-again believers. This brings great comfort to us as born-again believers. Praise the Lord! Give thanks to God our father who has saved us from the wrath to come!

This month's teaching is on Living the Great Mystery: The first of the three judgements.

There are three judgements documented in God's Word. But most Christians only know about one judgement - the wrath in the book of Revelation.
The three judgements documented in God's Word apply to Judean (Israel), Gentiles and the church of God. Let's look at 1 Corinthians 10:32:

Give none offence, neither to the Jews [Judean/Israel], nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.

The first judgement applies to the members of the body of Christ or the Church of God. It is on the day of Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:2). It is called the "Bema" in Romans 14:10. The Bema is not a judgement thing; it's a reward stand because we have already been judged in Christ Jesus.

The second of the three judgements applies to the nation of the Gentile's (Matthew 25:32) because of their treatment of the Biblical Israel. This second judgement time is when the son of man sits upon the throne of his glory as described in Matthew 25:31. The place is before the throne of Jesus Christ's glory upon earth.

The third of the three judgements applies to Israel. The time is immediately after the 1000 years are expired (see Revelation 20:7). The place is before the white throne as described in Revelation 20:11.

We must also keep in our minds the following Scriptures as we learn about the three judgements. Turn to 1 Corinthians 2: 8:

Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

The prince of this world is Satan. God's Word tell us that had Satan and his chief devil spirits known about the great mystery (Greek word - musterion; see January 2019 for more information) "they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." This Great Mystery is so glorious, magnificent, and brilliant that had the devil known it, he would not have crucified the Lord of glory! Therefore, it was kept secret. The Great Mystery is documented in Ephesians 3:6:

That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his [God's] promise in Christ by the gospel (bold added).

God calls us to His household by grace. Grace is not of works but of God's unmerited divine favor. We don't work to get saved or to stay saved. We are saved through God's grace! Let's continue with Ephesians 2:7-10:

That in the ages to come he [God] might shew [exhibit] the exceeding riches of his [God] grace in his [God] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye [the born-again believers] saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his [God] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we [the born-again believers] should walk in them.

With this background, we can now go to God's Word and look at the first of the three judgements.

The first of the three judgements applies to the members of the body of Christ or the Church of God. It is on the day of Christ. It called the Bema and it is not a judgement thing. The Bema is a reward stand, because we have already been judged in Christ Jesus. This is documented in Ephesians 2:6-7:

And hath raised us [the born-again believers] up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

The Word of God says the body of Christ or the Church of God are already seated in "heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2: 7 tells us:

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

The only thing left is rewards. We do not get judged. We receive the rewards we have earned by our walk on earth by doing the works that Jesus Christ did. John 14:12:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

There are five crowns or rewards in God's Word, and they are:

1. Incorruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9: 25)
2. Crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
3. Crown of rightness (2 Timothy 4: 8)
4. Crown of life (James 1:12)
5. Crown of glory (1 Peter 5: 4)

These crowns are rewards for our work done here on earth!

The Word of God tells us how each of these crowns are received. These are rewards laid up for us in the future. We earn rewards by our walk upon this earth as sons and daughters of God doing the works of Jesus Christ. Turn to 1 John 3:1-2:

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore, the world knows us not, because it knew him not. Beloved now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him [Jesus Christ]; for we shall see him [Jesus Christ] as he is.

As sons and daughters of God our Father we have an inheritance. Our inheritance is documented in Ephesians 1:11:

In whom also we [the born-again believers] have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Our inheritance is incorruptible, undefiled and fades not away! 1 Peter 1:4-5:

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you [the born-again believers], who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Those who appear in this first judgment are the body of Christ or the Church of God. At this time, our bodies have been changed. We now have that new spiritual body! 1 Corinthians 15:50-58:

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

After we are born-again, we receive awards based on our walk while on earth. What do we do with that gift God gave us? Do we walk as Jesus Christ did in all we do and say? Most born-again believers do not know or understand the rewards of the future.

We do good works during our life to receive rewards in the future. Remember, at this time there is no judgement for us that are in Christ Jesus who walk after the spirit! Romans 8:1:

There is therefore now no condemnation [judgment] to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Our stand before the Judgment seat is for rewards. Romans 14:9-12:

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat [the Greek word, is bema for rewards] of Christ.

For it is written, as I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

We will never meet at the judgement seat where punishment is given out. We are already seated in the heavenly in Christ Jesus. We will only meet at the rewards stand or the Bema. 1 Corinthians 13: 10-12 tells us:

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now, we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

We will all be rewarded based on our walk in Jesus Christ. Rewards are based on your work on this earth. Salvation is of grace! Let's take a minute to read 1 Corinthians 15: 39-49:

All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.

There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star different from another star in glory.

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.

As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

We receive awards based on our walk after we are born again. What did we do with that gift God gave us? Did we teach others how to be born-again of God's spirit and come to the knowledge of God's Word? Or did we just get born-again and that was it? Most born-again believers do not know or understand the rewards of the future. The rewards we receive now are only temporary, but the rewards we will receive at the Bema are everlasting!

Once Christ returns and gathers us together, this corruptible (the dead) must put on incorruption, and this mortal (the living) must put on immortality (see 1 Corinthians 15:53). Ephesians 3:20-21 tells us:

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Rewards will last throughout all eternity. We must lay treasures up in heaven. Matthew 6:20 says:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

This is the first judgment. It's for the Body of Christ or the church of God. It consists of all born-again believers after Pentecost. 1 Corinthians: 15: 58:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Father, thank you, for this great teaching on the first of the three judgements. Thank you for giving us an understanding of Your Word on the first judgement. Thank you for allowing me to share Your Word with other believers.

In wonderful name of our savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Next month's teaching: Living the Great Mystery.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

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