The Judgment Seat of Christ

This morning's sermon at Jesus Save Mission (JSM) Singapore:

Introduction (Romans 14:10)

1. The prophecy (Romans 14:11, Isaiah 45:23)
2. The purpose (2 Corinthians 5:10)
3. The timing (At the rapture, Revelation 22:12, Matthew 16:27)
4. The location (Heaven, Revelation 4:4)
5. The things to be judged
1. Works (1 Corinthians 3:13, Hebrews 6:10, Matthew 10:41)
2. Stewardship
• Gifts (2 Timothy 1:6, 1 Corinthians 12:11, 1 Peter 4:10, Luke 19:13, Matthew 25:23)
• Time (Ephesians 5:16, John 9:4, Luke 18:1)
• Wealth (Luke 16:11, Philippians 4:16, 2 Corinthians 8:4)
3. Conduct
• Words (Matthew 12:36-37)
• Deeds (John 4:34, Acts 17:20, Hebrews 13:17)
4. Motives (Romans 2:16)
6. The rewards given
   1. Crown of Joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
   2. Crown of Righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8)
   3. The Incorruptible Crown (1 Corinthians 9:25)
   4. Crown of Life (James 1:12)
   5. Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:4)
7. The losses suffered (1 Corinthians 3:15, 2 John 1:8, unconfessed sins 1 John 1:9)

Conclusion (Matthew 5:12, Matthew 6:20, Revelation 4:10, 1 John 2:28)

See Bema Seat of Christ.

Zero-Day Vulnerability

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5 ESV)

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned - for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. (Romans 5:12-13 ESV)

Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. (Ephesians 2:3 NASB)

What is a Zero-Day Vulnerability? According to this website, "A zero day vulnerability refers to a hole in software that is unknown to the vendor. This security hole is then exploited by hackers before the vendor becomes aware and hurries to fix it - this exploit is called a zero day attack."

We sin, because we have a sinful nature. We indulge the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath. Even babies, when they are born, the sin nature is already in them. They have Zero-Day Vulnerability.

Brothers, I tell you this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption. (1 Corinthians 15:50 HCSB)

Our fleshly bodies have sinned, and for the sins we have not committed, we may have Zero-Day Vulnerability for that sin. Thus we cannot inherit the kingdom of God. To inherit the kingdom of God, we need a new body, which is perfect, without Zero-Day Vulnerability. That is why we need to be resurrected with a new body.

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44 ESV)

Do not believe in the lie that salvation can be achieved by good works. Good works cannot fix Zero-Day Vulnerability. A new body is needed.

Which Came First, Intelligence or System

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1 NASB, NIV, NLT)

Now that the chicken-and-egg problem is solved, we cannot apply this analogy to the First Cause question.

Instead of chicken-and-egg problem, now I have intelligence-and-system problem. Which came first, intelligence or system? Did an intelligence designed and created the system, or a system of laws evolved intelligence accidentally and mindlessly?

The current theory of the beginning of the universe is the big bang theory. The big bang caused the existence of time and space. But what about the laws? Did the big bang created all these laws at the same time, or the laws have a separate existence? If the laws of the universe have a separate existence, where were they held?

Opposition To Perfect Government

When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. (Revelation 20:7-9 NASB)

After the second coming of Christ, God's Kingdom will be set up for a thousand years. During this thousand years, there will be perfect governance.

Today, our governments are imperfect. This gives us the opportunity to blame the government for our imperfections. But under a perfect government, anyone unhappy is likely to be cause by their own sin and imperfection and they cannot blame the government anymore.

But when Satan is released, these unhappy people will finally be able to hear an alternate reason for their unhappiness. Satan will tell them that their unhappiness is caused by God. And these unhappy people will rise in rebellion. Their number are like the sand of the seashore.